Wed Jul 23 10:05:30 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article based on it:

**Summary:**

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about a potential global chikungunya epidemic. They are observing similar patterns to the 2004-2005 outbreak, which spread rapidly from the Indian Ocean region. The disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, causes fever and severe joint pain, affecting millions. Outbreaks are currently occurring in Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius, with spread to other areas including South Asia and Europe. The WHO is urging countries to prepare and take preventative measures, such as mosquito control and personal protection, to avoid a large-scale global outbreak.

**News Article:**

**Global Chikungunya Epidemic Looms, WHO Warns; Echoes of 2004 Outbreak Spark Alarm**

*Geneva – July 23, 2025* – The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, concerning a potential global epidemic of chikungunya virus. The international health body is drawing parallels to the devastating outbreak of 2004-2005, urging swift and decisive action to prevent a repeat.

“We are seeing the same pattern emerge,” said Diana Rojas Alvarez of the WHO in a Geneva press briefing. “Since the beginning of 2025, Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius have all reported major chikungunya outbreaks.” In Reunion, an estimated one-third of the population is already infected.

Chikungunya, transmitted through the bites of infected *Aedes aegypti* and *Aedes albopictus* mosquitoes (commonly known as tiger mosquitoes), causes fever, severe joint pain, and can occasionally be fatal. The virus has been detected in 119 countries, placing an estimated 5.6 billion people at risk.

The current outbreak is spreading to other regions, including Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya, and South Asia. Imported cases are also being reported in Europe, with local transmission already detected in France and suspected cases in Italy. The similar symptomatology to Dengue Fever and the Zika Virus further adds to the complexity of containment, as diagnosis becomes more difficult.

The WHO is urging countries to implement preventative measures immediately. These include controlling mosquito populations by eliminating standing water and encouraging the use of mosquito repellent.

“We are raising the alarm early so countries can prepare early, detect and strengthen all the capacities to avoid going through very large outbreaks,” Rojas Alvarez stated. She warned that even though the case fatality rate is generally less than one percent, a widespread epidemic could result in thousands of deaths.

The 2004-2005 outbreak demonstrated the speed at which chikungunya can spread globally. The WHO emphasized that preparedness and preventative measures are critical to mitigating the impact of this emerging threat. The public is advised to take precautions against mosquito bites and eliminate breeding grounds to help curb the spread of the virus.

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