Travelers eyeing the Seychelles for an Indian Ocean escape are being urged to rethink how they prepare for their trip as health authorities confirm a surge in chikungunya virus cases across the islands. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 “practice enhanced precautions” notice for Seychelles, warning of an active outbreak and advising visitors to take extra steps to prevent mosquito bites and consider vaccination before departure. With the country’s rainy season fueling mosquito populations and local officials confirming a rise in arbovirus infections, this is a moment for travelers to stay informed and act quickly to protect their health.
What Is Happening in Seychelles Right Now
The CDC added Seychelles to its list of chikungunya outbreak destinations on February 5, 2026, assigning the islands a Level 2 Travel Health Notice. This level signals that travel is not banned, but that the health risk is meaningful and requires enhanced precautions. The advisory comes after Seychelles health authorities documented increasing chikungunya activity since mid-December and identified the virus as the most prevalent of several mosquito-borne infections currently circulating.
The country’s Ministry of Health has reported ongoing circulation of multiple arboviruses, including dengue and Zika, since 2024, with chikungunya cases rising in particular in recent weeks, coinciding with the rainy season. Local media have quoted officials describing a nationwide uptick in fever-and-rash illnesses and confirmatory tests showing that most recent cases are chikungunya rather than other viruses. While exact case counts have not been fully published, the trend is clear enough that both national and international health agencies are mobilizing prevention campaigns.
For travelers, the key point is that this is not an isolated cluster limited to one small area. Infections are being detected across the archipelago, which means visitors may encounter risk whether they are staying in the capital Victoria on Mahé, on resort-heavy Praslin and La Digue, or on more remote islands. This broader geographic spread, together with the country’s appeal as a year-round beach destination, has prompted international concern.
Understanding Chikungunya and Why It Matters to Travelers
Chikungunya is a viral illness transmitted to humans through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These are the same aggressive daytime-biting mosquitoes responsible for spreading dengue and Zika in tropical and subtropical regions. Unlike respiratory viruses, chikungunya does not spread from person to person through casual contact; the mosquito is the essential link in the transmission chain.
Symptoms typically begin three to seven days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. The illness usually starts abruptly with high fever, followed by intense joint pain that many patients describe as debilitating or even crippling. Other common symptoms include headache, muscle aches, rash, fatigue and nausea. While most people recover from the acute phase within about a week, the joint pain can linger for months or even longer in some cases, significantly affecting quality of life.
For most healthy adults, chikungunya is rarely fatal, but that does not mean it is a minor inconvenience. Prolonged joint inflammation can limit mobility, interfere with work, and turn what was meant to be a relaxing holiday into a long-term health struggle. Severe disease is more likely among newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults, and individuals with underlying conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or weakened immune systems. Pregnant travelers have specific additional concerns, as transmission from mother to baby can occur around delivery.
Why Health Authorities Issued a Level 2 Advisory
The Level 2 advisory from the CDC reflects a calculated assessment of both the likelihood of infection and the potential impact on travelers. At this level, authorities are not telling people to cancel all trips, but they are clearly signaling that the situation is serious enough that standard travel health habits are no longer sufficient. “Enhanced precautions” means that visitors need to plan carefully and take active steps before, during and after travel to reduce their risk.
Several factors contributed to the elevated notice. First, confirmed local transmission indicates that mosquitoes in Seychelles are currently carrying chikungunya and transmitting it efficiently within the community. Second, the rainy season increases breeding sites, from puddles to water-filled containers, dramatically expanding mosquito populations and the chances of getting bitten. Third, the presence of other arboviruses such as dengue and Zika complicates clinical diagnosis and pressures the health system, making prevention even more critical.
Another reason for the heightened concern is the profile of typical visitors to Seychelles. The islands attract honeymooners, retirees on long-haul luxury trips, families with young children and high-end resort guests who may assume that stylish accommodations alone guarantee a health-safe environment. The CDC and other public health agencies want to make clear that even in upscale resorts and remote private islands, the risk of mosquito-borne disease is real if preventive measures are not taken seriously.
Who Is Most at Risk and Should Consider Changing Plans
While any traveler can become infected with chikungunya, some groups face a higher likelihood of severe outcomes and may need to reconsider or postpone travel to Seychelles until the outbreak subsides. Pregnant individuals, especially those approaching their due date, fall into this category because of the risk of passing the virus to the newborn around the time of birth. Health authorities have specifically advised that pregnant travelers speak with their clinicians and consider deferring nonessential trips to affected areas.
Older adults, particularly those over 65, are also at elevated risk of more intense and prolonged symptoms. Age-related changes in the immune system and preexisting joint or cardiovascular conditions can increase the severity of chikungunya’s impact. Similarly, people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or immune suppression may experience more complications and slower recovery if they become infected.
Families traveling with newborns or very young infants face additional challenges. Infants cannot use many standard insect repellents, and their small body size makes even moderate illness more dangerous. For these travelers, the combination of limited prevention options and potentially severe disease for the youngest family members often tips the balance toward postponing visits until health authorities report that the outbreak has eased.
The New Role of Chikungunya Vaccination
One of the most significant developments shaping the current travel guidance is the availability of a chikungunya vaccine for adults in the United States and some other countries. The CDC now recommends vaccination for people who are planning to travel to areas experiencing a chikungunya outbreak, including Seychelles. This represents a shift from previous years, when no licensed vaccine was available and prevention relied entirely on mosquito-bite avoidance.
The vaccine is currently approved for adults and is intended to be given before exposure. Travelers who decide to get vaccinated should speak with their health care providers or a travel medicine clinic well in advance of departure to ensure that there is enough time for the body to generate a robust immune response. While the vaccine is not a substitute for other preventive measures, it can substantially reduce the risk of symptomatic infection and may provide meaningful peace of mind for those who must or strongly wish to travel.
It is important to note that pregnant individuals, people with certain medical conditions or those taking specific medications should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their own clinicians. Recommendations may vary based on personal health status, age and the details of the trip, including length of stay, type of accommodation and planned activities.
Immediate Steps to Take Before You Travel
If you already have a trip to Seychelles booked for the coming weeks or months, there are several practical actions you can take now. The first is to schedule a consultation with a travel health specialist, ideally at least a month before departure. During this visit, you can review recommended vaccines for Seychelles, including the chikungunya vaccine, and ensure that routine immunizations such as measles and hepatitis A are up to date.
Your travel health provider can help you assess your personal risk profile based on age, pregnancy status, medical history and itinerary. For example, a younger, healthy traveler staying in an air-conditioned resort and avoiding extensive outdoor exposure has a different risk profile than an older backpacker spending long evenings outdoors or visiting outer islands with more limited health infrastructure. This nuanced assessment can inform decisions about vaccination, trip timing and itinerary adjustments.
In parallel, begin assembling a personal travel health kit. This should include an effective insect repellent containing an active ingredient known to work against Aedes mosquitoes, such as a high-concentration product with DEET, picaridin or other recognized formulations. Pack light, long-sleeved clothing and long trousers made from breathable fabrics that can be worn in warm weather, as well as socks and closed shoes to reduce exposed skin on the lower legs and ankles, where Aedes mosquitoes often bite.
Protecting Yourself on the Ground in Seychelles
Once in Seychelles, your daily behavior will significantly influence your level of protection. Aedes mosquitoes tend to bite during daylight hours, with peaks in the early morning and late afternoon, though they can also bite at night in well-lit areas. Applying insect repellent in the morning and reapplying as directed throughout the day, especially after swimming or sweating, is essential.
Clothing choices matter. Even in a beach setting, consider wearing long-sleeved shirts and long, lightweight trousers when walking through vegetation, sightseeing in towns or sitting outdoors at cafes. In the evenings, when people often gather outdoors for dining or sunset views, it is wise to continue using repellent and cover as much skin as is comfortable given the temperature and humidity.
Your accommodation can provide another crucial layer of defense. When booking, prioritize places with effective air conditioning or intact window and door screens. Once you arrive, keep windows and doors closed or screened, especially around dawn and dusk. If your room offers a bed net or you travel with a portable one, use it, particularly if you are staying somewhere without reliable air conditioning or where windows need to stay open for ventilation.
Recognizing Symptoms and What To Do If You Fall Ill
Despite careful precautions, it is still possible to be bitten by an infected mosquito. Being able to recognize the early symptoms of chikungunya and respond quickly is therefore a critical part of staying safe. If you develop a sudden high fever, intense joint pain, headache, muscle aches or a rash during your stay in Seychelles or within two weeks of returning home, you should seek medical evaluation promptly and inform the clinician about your recent travel to an area with a chikungunya outbreak.
There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya. Care focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting the body while it clears the infection. Rest, fluids and medications such as acetaminophen or paracetamol may be recommended to manage fever and pain. Because some medications used for pain and fever can increase the risk of bleeding in illnesses like dengue, it is important not to self-medicate heavily before a medical professional has evaluated you and considered the possibility of other mosquito-borne infections.
If you become ill while still in Seychelles, contact your hotel or tour operator for assistance in reaching a medical facility with appropriate diagnostic and supportive services. Most travelers can recover outside of a hospital setting, but severe or persistent symptoms, particularly in people with underlying health conditions, warrant more intensive care. If symptoms appear after you return home, promptly inform your doctor that you have been in Seychelles during a documented chikungunya outbreak, as this information can guide testing and management.
Balancing the Dream Trip With Realistic Risk Management
Seychelles remains open to visitors, and for many travelers the country’s beaches, coral reefs and lush granitic peaks still hold enormous appeal. The chikungunya outbreak does not mean that every traveler will get sick, but it does change the risk landscape in ways that must be taken seriously. For some, particularly pregnant individuals, older adults and those with significant chronic illnesses, postponing travel until the outbreak has subsided may be the most prudent option.
For others, the combination of vaccination, rigorous mosquito-bite prevention, thoughtful itinerary planning and heightened symptom awareness can bring the level of risk down to something they consider acceptable. That is a personal decision that should be made in consultation with health professionals, informed by the latest official advisories and an honest assessment of one’s own health status and risk tolerance.
What is clear is that the era of assuming that idyllic island settings are automatically free from serious infectious disease threats is over. Climate change, shifting mosquito habitats and rising international travel have brought arboviruses like chikungunya into high-end tourist destinations as well as into major cities. For travelers to Seychelles in the coming months, staying healthy will depend less on luck and more on preparation, vigilance and evidence-based action before, during and after the trip.