Travel Alert Issued: Visitors to India Infected with Chikungunya

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today it has identified a higher-than-expected number of chikungunya cases among U.S. travelers returning from the state of Telangana, India.

On November 8, 2024, the CDC issued a Level 2—Practice Enhanced Precautions, Travel Health Advisory to alert travelers to India's ongoing chikungunya outbreak. In 2024, India reported 69,395 chikungunya cases.

Telangana is located in the south-central region of India, with a population of about 35 million. The USA is generally the largest source of foreign tourists arriving in India annually.

As of early November 2024, the CDC reported that 153 people had been infected with chikungunya while traveling abroad. Last year, only 129 cases were confirmed.

People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults, and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. The CDC stated that if you are pregnant, reconsider travel to the state of Telangana, mainly if you are close to delivering your baby. 

The CDC recommends vaccination against chikungunya for (most) adults traveling to a destination with a current outbreak.

In late 2023, the U.S. FDA approved Valneva SE's IXCHIQ®, the first vaccine to address chikungunya virus infections in adults. IXCHIQ is commercially available in the U.S. at most travel clinics and pharmacies.