Infectious Diseases Update

May 14, 2025

CDC Issues Travel Notice Following CHIKV Outbreak in Indian Ocean Region

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 travel notice on Monday in response to an ongoing outbreak of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in the Indian Ocean region. Affected countries include Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia and Sri Lanka.

The notice advises travelers to practice enhanced precautions and encourages clinicians to discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination based on a traveler’s age, underlying health conditions, destination, trip duration and planned activities.

FDA, CDC Recommend Pausing CHIKV Vaccine Use in Seniors

The Food and Drug Administration and CDC recommended a pause in the use of the live chikungunya vaccine (Ixchiq) in adults 60 years and older following reports of serious adverse events, including neurologic and cardiac complications.

As of May 7, 17 serious adverse events, including two deaths, have been reported in individuals ages 62 to 89 who received the vaccine. FDA is conducting a benefit-risk assessment for this age group while safety monitoring continues.

The agency approved Ixchiq in 2023 for individuals at increased risk of chikungunya virus exposure. Potential donors who have received Ixchiq should be deferred for four weeks following vaccination.

Information for AABB Members

CHIKV, a mosquito-borne virus, is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines, but outbreaks have been reported in other regions. While CHIKV is theoretically transmissible through blood transfusion, no documented cases have been reported. More information is available in AABB’s CHIKV fact sheet.