However, a current outbreak of Chikungunya could deter some travelers from visiting the East African country. The virus is spread by mosquitoes and causes severe pain, with symptoms including muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to Americans heading to the Seychelles, citing an “outbreak” of the virus. It has issued a Level 2 travel alert, advising people to take better precautions when visiting the country.
The CDC recommends that tourists traveling to the Seychelles protect themselves by avoiding mosquito bites. This can be done by using insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in places with air conditioning or with screens on the windows and doors.
However, it cannot be passed from one person to another. Most people who contract the virus make a full recovery, although in some cases muscle pain and fatigue can last for months.
It usually takes four to eight days for symptoms to appear after someone is bitten by a mosquito. Fever and joint pain are usually the first symptoms to appear.
According to the British Travel Health Pro, there is a risk of contracting the virus in the Seychelles. “Between early December 2025 and January 30, 2026, GeoSentinel surveillance reported nine confirmed and four probable cases of chikungunya virus disease in European travelers returning from the Seychelles,” it warned.
Meanwhile, the Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON), which monitors global health outbreaks, said: “The clustering of cases among returning travelers strongly suggests an acute increase in chikungunya transmission in the Seychelles in recent weeks, making this a location where preventive measures for travelers are advisable. A nationwide increase in chikungunya cases since mid-December 2025 has also been recognized by the Seychelles Ministry of Health.”
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