RIGA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Latvia has confirmed three cases of Chikungunya virus this year in individuals who had traveled to Seychelles, the Latvian Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) said on Monday.
Two of the cases involved members of the same family, while the third is not epidemiologically linked to the others. All three patients had traveled to Seychelles during the virus's incubation period, the SPKC said.
On Feb. 27, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that since November 2025, more than 70 travel-related Chikungunya cases among travellers returning from Seychelles have been identified in 10 European countries. This represents a significant increase compared with the earlier months of 2025 and indicates ongoing transmission in the island country. No Seychelles-linked cases had been reported before 2025.
According to the World Health Organization, the Chikungunya virus is primarily transmitted through bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes and is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
Typical symptoms include high fever, severe joint pain and rash, as well as muscle pain, headache, nausea, and fatigue. While most patients recover fully, joint pain may persist for weeks, months, or even years in some cases. ■
