The Department of Health has issued a general alert about Chikungunya (CHK) in the state after an epidemic, qualified as a “medium intensity”, it has been reported in the French territory of the meeting islands on the eastern coast of Africa and with the European Center for Disease Control and WHO observing the evolution situation.
Chikungunya’s first outbreak in Kerala was in 2006-07 and this had been an extension of the outbreak that begged in the islands of the meeting and that extended rapidly through Asian countries.
The current outbreak begged at the end of August 2024 in several municipalities of the meeting islands and continues in 2025, which leads to an increase in hospital admissions. The two deaths related to Chikungunya have been reported in the elderly, while up to 14 newborns had to be hospitalized, according to ECDC reports. Until now, more than 13,000 cases have been reported.
By mosquitoes
This is the backdrop of which Kerala is issuing an alert, said the Department of Health. The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, whose concentration has also been high in Kerala also in recent years.
Chikungunya is informed sporadical in Kerala and last year, there were 29 cases, as well as two deaths, as reported by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project.
Published – April 11, 2025 9:19 PM IST