South Africa has reported 10 travel-related cases of chikungunya virus in 2025, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)
The 10 cases involved people who had traveled to countries currently experiencing outbreaks.
Testing by NHLS and Lancet laboratories verified the infections.
Chikungunya, a virus that derives its name from the Makonde language and means “to become contorted” or “that which bends up due to its painful joint symptoms, is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Chikungunya is spread by daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes, which catch the virus from infected people and pass it to others through their bites.
People infected with chikungunya usually develop fever, rashes, headaches, and painful, swollen joints within three to seven days, and while most recover in a week, joint pain can linger for months or even years in vulnerable individuals.
The NICD highlights that while fatal cases are extremely rare, infants, elderly people, and those with chronic conditions are more at risk. Although the virus is usually brought into the country by returning travelers, the growing international spread and the presence of local mosquito carriers could raise the risk of domestic transmission.
