The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued an alert on March 13 about a high risk of chikungunya virus infection for travelers to Seychelles. Since November 2025, more than 110 travel-related cases of chikungunya virus disease have been reported by 13 EU/EEA countries among travelers returning from Seychelles, the ECDC said. This represents a marked increase compared with earlier months of 2025, and no cases were reported in preceding years, according to the ECDC report. The current likelihood of chikungunya virus infection for travelers to Seychelles is high, the agency noted.
Chikungunya spreads through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species. According to local health authorities, chikungunya virus has become more prevalent in Seychelles compared with other circulating arboviruses. The infection causes sudden, high fever and severe, often debilitating, joint pain that can last for months, and in rare cases can be fatal. The peak travel period to Seychelles occurs between February and April, which aligns with the current outbreak timeline, though it is unknown what specific preventive measures are being implemented by Seychelles authorities to control it or how many confirmed cases have been reported in Seychelles itself.
In 2024, there were 112 confirmed and probable cases of chikungunya reported among travelers returning to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to the UK Health Security Agency. Travel to India accounted for the majority of chikungunya cases in 2024, followed by travel to Pakistan and Brazil. The UK Health Security Agency reports that cases of chikungunya virus increased by 43% last year and are being detected at their highest levels since 2014. The data shows chikungunya is caught abroad between April and September.
The likelihood of onward transmission of chikungunya virus in mainland Europe following introduction by a viraemic traveler is currently considered low, as environmental conditions are not favorable for Aedes mosquito activity at this time of year, the ECDC report stated.
There are two chikungunya vaccines that have recently been approved for use in the UK and are available privately from travel clinics. It is unknown what the current availability and cost of these vaccines are for travelers, or if there are any travel restrictions or advisories issued by the UK government specifically for Seychelles due to the chikungunya risk.
Malaria cases detected back in the UK dropped slightly in 2025, but remain high. Imported malaria cases decreased to 1,629 in 2025 from 1,812 in 2024, according to UKHSA data. Most malaria cases were reported during the late spring and summer travel months between May and October.
The UK Health Security Agency has released data showing a 56% increase in cholera cases in 2025 compared to 2024. Thirteen cholera cases were travel-associated and one became ill after consuming water from an endemic country, a UKHSA report said. The main travel destinations for cholera cases were Pakistan, India and Ethiopia. Cholera is an acute, severe diarrhoeal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, which can be fatal within hours if untreated.