Given the expansion of chikungunya virus transmission in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) reminds Member States to continue efforts to reduce vector density and prepare health services for the possibility of chikungunya virus outbreaks which may increase the demand for such services, particularly in areas with concurrent dengue outbreaks.

Given the continued dissemination of chikungunya virus in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) reminds Member States to continue efforts to reduce vector density, in addition to training health care workers on identifying clinically compatible cases and prepare health services for the possibility of chikungunya virus outbreaks as they may increase the demand for such services, particularly in areas with concurrent dengue outbreaks.

The first occurrence of the disease was described in Tanzania in 1952. Starting in 2004, intense outbreaks have been constantly reported in Africa, islands of the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific region, including Australia and Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand). In 2007, the virus extended to Italy, where it produced an outbreak transmitted by Ae albopictus in the Emilia-Romagna region. Recent Chikungunya fever outbreaks have shown important impacts on Public Health, mainly in health services.

Given the continued spread of chikungunya virus in the Americas, and the start of the period with higher dengue circulation in Central America and the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) advises Member States who have the vector mosquito of both viruses (Aedes aegypti), to increase vector density reduction efforts, based on the Dengue Integrated Management Strategy (Dengue-IMS), in addition to establishing and maintaining dengue and chikungunya case management capacity, and to implement effective public communication strategies to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

Given the detection of the first cases of autochthonous transmission of chikungunya fever in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Member States establish and maintain the capacity to detect and confirm cases, manage cases and implement an effective public communication strategy to reduce vector presence, particularly in areas where the mosquito that transmits the disease is present.