Chikungunya spreading in Mayotte

On April 25, the French Department of Mayotte confirmed 55 indigenous and travel-related cases of chikungunya since the beginning of the year. The virus is already circulating in other islands of the western Indian Ocean like Réunion and Mauritius. Following the identification of the first indigenous case in March, health authorities on Mayotte activated level 2A of the ORSEC plan, offering vaccination to people aged 18 to 64 with comorbidities. The vaccine administered is Valneva SE’s IXCHIQ. ARS Mayotte has published a map of vaccination sites and assured healthcare providers are ready to answer any questions on the vaccine’s effectiveness and potential side effects. The health agency also advised people traveling to areas where the virus is circulating to apply preventive measures during their stay in Mayotte and for three weeks after their return home to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease.