Overview

• Over 100,000 residents of La Réunion are estimated to have been infected with chikungunya, far exceeding the 27,521 cases officially recorded since January 2025.
• Health authorities report approximately 22,000 weekly general practitioner consultations for symptoms consistent with chikungunya, underscoring widespread underreporting.
• The epidemic continues to progress, with officials noting that the anticipated mid-April peak has not yet been reached.
• Sick leaves on the island have surged, with 12,186 recorded during the week of April 7–13, more than double the figures from earlier in March.
• While less severe than the 2005-2006 outbreak, which resulted in 260,000 cases and over 200 deaths, the current situation remains critical, with two deaths directly attributed to the virus so far.