Chikungunya and Dengue in Mexico and Latin America

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) urges Californians to protect themselves against mosquito bites if traveling to Mexico or Latin America, where there have been increasing reports of chikungunya and dengue infections. Chikungunya infection causes fever and joint pain; as of November 2015, over 10,000 cases were reported in Mexico this year, and over 34,000 cases were reported in the Caribbean and Central and South America. Dengue causes fever, headache, joint pain and muscle pain; over 23,000 cases have been reported in Mexico this year as of November 2015, and widespread outbreaks have occurred throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America in recent years.

For travelers:

• California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Travel Advisory, December 2015 – Chikungunya and Dengue in Mexico and Latin America
• CDPH news release, December 9, 2015
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Mosquito Bite Prevention for Travelers

For health care providers:

• CDPH guidance to clinicians for diagnosis and reporting of chikungunya and dengue infections
• CDC clinical comparison of chikungunya and dengue infections and testing guidance