Sri Lanka Confirms Indian Ocean Chikungunya Outbreak

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health recently highlighted a noticeable increase in the Chikungunya outbreak in the Colombo and Kotte areas.

As of March 14, 2025, Weekly Epidemiological Report #12 revealed 173 chikungunya cases had been reported in Colombo, Gampaha, and Kandy.

Local media reported that Acting Consultant Community Physician Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon stated that the Chikungunya virus spread to Sri Lanka in 1960. After several years of low transmission, medical experts said in May 2025 that an effective way to control the spread of Chikungunya is to eliminate as many mosquito breeding sites as possible.

While Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia in the Indian Ocean, it is located thousands of miles to the east of the Chikungunya outbreaks in Mayotte, Mauritius, and Réunion.

International travelers departing from the United States and Europe can receive a preventive vaccine when visiting these Chikungunya outbreak areas in May 2025.