The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 warning for U.S. travelers to the Seychelles due to an outbreak of chikungunya fever in the Indian Ocean island republic. The island is about a day’s flight from most U.S. cities and has seen a surge in visitors from the U.S. in the past few years. During the outbreak, CDC Travelers are asked to “enforce precautionary measures” during their visit.
Chikungunya is spread through mosquito bites, with symptoms appearing three to seven days after exposure to an infected mosquito, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It does not spread directly from person to person. The CDC recommends that U.S. travelers get the chikungunya vaccine before traveling.
“You can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites, including using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in air-conditioned areas or with screens on doors and windows,” CDC Consulting read.
Chikungunya outbreak in Seychelles: What to know
Chikungunya Starting in January 2026, there was an increase in reported cases in Seychelles. According to Seychelles National newspaper, on January 7, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Jude Gedeon confirmed at a press conference that chikungunya cases are more prevalent in the county than other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and Zika.
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Local health authorities are increasing arbovirus surveillance and response, indicating an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity, the report added.
According to the Seychelles Tourism Authority, the number of tourists from the United States has increased significantly each year over the past four years. Nearly 11,000 arrivals from the United States were recorded between 2021 and 2025. Atta Travel reports that the United States is the country’s fifth-largest travel market as of August 2025.
The Tourism Analytics website states that 398,841 people visited the country in 2025.
