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India, meanwhile, has seen an outbreak of Chikungunya since April in the states
of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The disease has also been reported
on the islands of Mayotte, Mauritius and the Seychelles in the Indian
Ocean.

Chikungunya fever, like malaria, is a mosquito-born viral disease
that causes fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting and joint pain. According
to the WHO, travelers returning with Chikungunya infections have already been
reported in France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland.

Outbreaks of
Chikungunya have been mixed with cases of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne
illness, in some affected areas.

There are no preventive medicines or
vaccines for Chikungunya fever, so health officials recommend that travelers
wear long-sleeved shirts and pants outside and use a bug repellent containing
DEET. They also recommend staying in well-screened hotels with air conditioning
to minimize exposure to mosquitoes.