The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 alert for US travelers to the Seychelles amid a chikungunya outbreak in the Indian Ocean island republic. A day’s flight from most US cities, the island has seen a surge of tourists from the US in the past few years. Amidst the outbreak, the CDC asked travelers to “exercise increased precautions” during their visit.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) main campus in Atlanta, Georgia. (Reuters)Chikungunya is spread through mosquito bites, and symptoms appear three to seven days after exposure to an infected mosquito, notes the Cleveland Clinic. It does not spread directly from person to person. The CDC recommends travelers to the U.S. get a chikungunya vaccine before visiting.
“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 windows and doors,” the CDC advisory states.
Chikungunya outbreak in Seychelles: what to knowChikungunya cases increased in Seychelles since January 2026. On January 7, Public Health Commissioner Dr Jude Gideon confirmed in a press conference that cases of chikungunya have been higher in the county than other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and Zika, the Seychelles Nation reported.
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Local health authorities are stepping up arbovirus surveillance and response, indicating an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity, the report added.
According to Seychelles Tourism, the number of annual visitors to the country from the United States has increased significantly over the past four years. Between 2021 and 2025, there were about 11,000 documented arrivals from the United States. Ata Travel reports that as of August 2025, the United States was the country’s 5th largest traveler market.
The website Tourism Analytics notes that 398,841 people visited the country in 2025.
