<i>Notes from the Field:</i> Chikungunya Outbreak — Paraguay, 2022–2023
Martha Torales, Amy Beeson, Lorena Grau, Miguel Galeano, Andrea Ojeda, Bettiana Martinez, Nancy F. Acevedo León, Águeda Cabello, Fátima Rojas, Viviana de Egea, Rosa Galeano, Sandra Ocampos, Cynthia Vázquez, Romeo Montoya, Susan L. Hills, Guillermo Sequera
Abstract
Local transmission of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was first reported in the Americas during December 2013, followed by widespread regional transmission (1).CHIKV is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.Most infected persons (72%-97%) experience symptomatic illness, typically including fever and often severe polyarthralgia (which can persist for months or years) (2).Rare complications include neurologic, cardiac, or renal disease (2).Paraguay reported its first autochthonous chikungunya case during 2015 (3).The subsequent outbreak, concentrated in the capital city of Asunción and the neighboring Central Department, resulted in 5,221 cases during 2015-2016.*A second outbreak (1,239 cases) occurred during 2018 in the north-central Amambay Department.Beginning the first week of October 2022, an increase in reported cases was again noted; this report provides preliminary information on this outbreak as of March 11, 2023.During October 1, 2022-March 11, 2023, a total of 81,037 suspected, probable, or confirmed † chikungunya cases was recorded by the Paraguayan Ministry of Health § ; among these, 75,911 (94%) occurred during 2023.Most cases occurred in Central Department (49,070; 61%) and Asunción (16,094; 20%).Cumulative national incidence was 1,073 cases per 100,000 population (3,088 per 100,000 population in Asunción).¶ Weekly case counts in Asunción and Central Department declined slightly after epidemiologic week 6, but an increasing number and proportion of cases were * https://www.mspbs.gov.py/dependencias/portal/adjunto/0a6e46-SE82023Alerta.