Four Chikungunya Cases, Diagnosed in Spanish Travelers to Asuncion, Paraguay

Cases were diagnosed by:
-2 positive PCR for Chik, also positive IgM
-2 positive IgM with negative PCR (PCR on day >19 form onset of symptoms)
-2 more test (serology/PCR) waiting for results

We would like to alert you to the risk of chikungunya virus disease in travelers returning from Paraguay, where seasonal chikungunya outbreaks have been reported from time to time since June 2014. The number of cases during the current outbreak in Paraguay has increased rapidly since December 2022. https://www3.paho.org/data/index.php/en/mnu-topics/chikv-en/550-chikv-weekly-en.html

Paraguayan health authorities estimated that the real number of chikungunya cases in the country is up to 20 times higher than the 18,000 reported in the country. Fourteen chikungunya-related deaths were reported, including 3 newborns. Hundred and three patients remained hospitalized, of whom 25 were in intensive care units (ICUs). The Municipality of Asunción declared an environmental emergency for 90 days as healthcare facilities were overwhelmed.

https://www.plenglish.com/news/2023/02/09/paraguay-on-alert-due-to-the-report-of-18000-cases-of-chikungunya

Please be vigilant for any patients with confirmed or probable chikungunya infection, and enter them in the core surveillance database asap, or email the GeoSentinel Program Manager at geosentinel@geosentinel.org (Aisha Rizwan) and David Hamer (GeoSentinelSurveillance Lead).

Best wishes,
On behalf of the OPI