US issues travel warning for popular destination as deadly virus spreads

US health officials have issued a travel warning following the outbreak of a virus capable of spreading to humans.

As many travelers plan winter getaways to tropical destinations or prepare for trips already booked, experts are urging caution for anyone heading to the Seychelles, where virus cases have raised growing concern.

Located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, the Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands northeast of Madagascar known for its white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and luxury resorts.

It’s a popular destination for honeymooners, divers and nature lovers, with the most popular time to visit being the dry season from May to October for snorkeling, sailing and exploring its coral reefs and nature reserves.

Symptoms of chikungunya usually begin 3–7 days after a bite by an infected mosquito (Getty Stock)

However, one thing that should make future travellers a little more cautious for the time being is the ‘level 2’ advisory from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They have urged tourists to ‘practice enhanced precautions’ if they are planning on visiting.

The CDC have reported an outbreak of chikungunya, a viral disease that can spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. It usually causes sudden high fever, severe joint pain, muscle aches, headache, fatigue and rash, the Cleveland Clinic reports.

Although it’s rarely fatal, the joint pain can be extremely painful. Although the majority of those infected recover after about a week of symptoms, some unfortunate sufferers report experiencing chronic joint pain after being infected.

Mosquitoes spread the disease (Getty Stock)

Treatment usually focuses on managing symptoms, which usually begin 3-7 days after a bite by an infected mosquito.

According to Cleveland Clinic, the virus does not spread from person to person through bodily contact or saliva. “People traveling to areas with active chikungunya transmission should be overly cautious about avoiding mosquito bites,” the website states. “It’s especially important to avoid getting more mosquito bites for about one week once you have the virus. This is because an uninfected mosquito could bite you and become infected, further spreading the virus.”

Death from chikungunya is rare, the CDC says.

Outbreaks have happened in countries in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

One way to protect yourself is by preventing mosquito bites, such as using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts, and staying in accommodations with screens on the windows or doors or rooms with air conditioning. Tourists heading to a place with a chikungunya outbreak could also get vaccinated.

The CDC has also urged those who are pregnant to reconsider trips to locations with a chikungunya outbreak.