Travel-associated chikungunya acquired in Myanmar in 2019

Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan;25(1):1900721. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.1.1900721.

Abstract

Eighteen cases of chikungunya virus infection in travellers returning from Myanmar were reported to the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, its subnetwork EuroTravNet and TropNet in 2019, reflecting an ongoing local outbreak. This report reinforces the importance of travellers as sentinels of emerging arboviral outbreaks and highlights the importance of vigilance for imported cases, due to the potential for dissemination of the virus into areas with competent local vectors and conducive environmental conditions.

Keywords: Chikungunya virus; Outbreak; surveillance; travel medicine.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arthralgia / etiology*
  • Chikungunya Fever / blood
  • Chikungunya Fever / diagnosis*
  • Chikungunya Fever / epidemiology
  • Chikungunya virus / genetics
  • Chikungunya virus / isolation & purification*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Exanthema / etiology
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mosquito Vectors / virology
  • Myanmar / epidemiology
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • Travel*