Federal health authorities have escalated their warnings regarding a highly infectious mosquito-borne illness that is spreading rapidly across multiple continents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a level 2 travel advisory specifically for Bolivia, urging American travelers to exercise enhanced precautions when visiting the South American nation.
Global Resurgence of Chikungunya Virus
This latest advisory responds to the alarming resurgence of chikungunya, a rare viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that is experiencing concerning outbreaks in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. According to CDC data, Bolivia reported approximately 5,000 confirmed cases of chikungunya in 2025, resulting in four fatalities, with experts warning that infection rates continue to climb in 2026.
Recent Travel Advisories Expanded
The Bolivia warning follows closely on the heels of similar level 2 advisories issued by the CDC for Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, and Suriname, located on the northeast coast of South America. These coordinated alerts reflect the global nature of the chikungunya threat and the need for international vigilance.
Protective Measures for Travelers
The CDC has outlined specific protective measures for travelers visiting affected regions. These include consistent use of EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in accommodations with air conditioning or properly screened windows and doors to prevent mosquito entry.
Vaccination is now recommended for travelers visiting areas experiencing active chikungunya outbreaks. A single-dose vaccine has been approved in the United States for individuals aged twelve and older. The agency has issued particularly strong warnings for pregnant travelers, especially those approaching their due dates, advising them to reconsider travel to affected areas entirely due to the risk of vertical transmission from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery.
Understanding Chikungunya Transmission and Symptoms
Chikungunya is transmitted through bites from infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same species responsible for spreading dengue and Zika viruses. Infection typically manifests three to seven days after exposure, with symptoms including debilitating high fever and severe joint pain. Additional common symptoms encompass headaches, muscle aches, joint swelling, and skin rashes.
While acute symptoms generally subside within a week, approximately forty percent of patients develop persistent, painful arthritis that can endure for months, years, or even become a lifelong disability. The joint pain is frequently so intense that patients assume stooped postures and experience significant difficulty walking or performing basic daily tasks.
High-Risk Populations Identified
The CDC has specifically highlighted several demographic groups facing elevated risks of severe complications from chikungunya infection. These include adults over sixty-five years old, individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension or cardiovascular disease, and most critically, newborns and pregnant individuals.
Local Transmission in the United States
Although chikungunya fatalities remain extremely rare in the United States, with fewer than one death per thousand cases, the potential for local transmission has been demonstrated. Historically, locally acquired cases have occurred in Florida in 2014, Texas in 2015, and most recently in New York in 2025, where a sixty-year-old Long Island woman contracted the virus without international travel.
In 2025 alone, Florida health officials confirmed over three hundred twenty travel-related cases plus one locally acquired infection. New York City documented three additional imported cases alongside its first-ever locally acquired infection that same year.
Global Impact and Historical Context
Globally, chikungunya caused two hundred twenty-nine deaths and nearly four hundred eighty-six thousand infections in recent outbreaks. The virus has demonstrated particular persistence in certain regions, with China experiencing its largest recorded outbreak last year, prompting the CDC to issue a level 2 travel advisory for that country as well.
Additional advisories have been implemented for Kenya, Cuba, Madagascar, Somalia, and Sri Lanka in response to regional outbreaks. The CDC issued similar warnings for Sri Lanka in December 2025 and for Guangdong Province, China, in August of that year.
Long-Term Health Consequences
Beyond the acute phase, chikungunya can evolve into chronic conditions resembling rheumatoid arthritis, with persistent inflammation leading to joint stiffness, swelling, and visible erosion on radiographic imaging. These long-term effects profoundly impact mobility, occupational capacity, and overall quality of life for affected individuals.
Although less common, severe neurological complications can occur, including encephalitis, meningitis, seizures, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks peripheral nerves.
The travel advisory for Bolivia carries particular significance given the country's tourism statistics. Bolivia welcomes nearly one million international visitors annually, including approximately fifty-three thousand American travelers, according to local travel data estimates.
