Chikungunya in Réunion: Nine Deaths Confirmed, Macron Visits as Up to 120,000 May Be Infected

The chikungunya outbreak continues to hit Réunion hard. According to the latest report from Santé publique France, published on Wednesday, April 23, three additional deaths “linked to chikungunya” have been recorded, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities this year to nine. All of the victims were over 70 years old and had underlying health conditions. Nine other deaths, including that of an infant, are still under investigation.

Since January, over 39,000 confirmed cases have been reported, though health authorities estimate that as many as 120,000 people may have been infected. Between April 7 and 13, emergency room visits rose by 21%, reaching 350 compared to 289 the previous week. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases fell from 6,237 to 4,304, though these figures are still being consolidated and may increase.

Severe Cases Among the Most Vulnerable

The outbreak, now considered to be at a high but stable level of transmission, has led to over 200 hospital stays lasting more than 24 hours. Nearly half involved patients over the age of 65, while a quarter were infants under six months old. A total of 47 severe cases have been identified, mostly among the elderly and young children, many of whom required intensive care.

Health authorities remain on high alert. With no specific treatment available for chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness, the risk remains significant—especially for the most vulnerable populations.

A Slow Start for the Vaccination Campaign

During a visit to the island on Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron witnessed firsthand the challenges posed by the outbreak. Accompanied by Health Minister Yannick Neuder, he met with medical staff and local officials. Neuder reiterated that the actual number of infections may be far higher than the confirmed cases suggest.

A vaccination campaign began in early April with the arrival of 40,000 doses of the Ixchiq vaccine, the first to receive market authorization in Europe. However, rollout has been slow, with only around 3,000 people vaccinated so far. An additional 60,000 doses have been secured by the government.

Prior to this surge, no chikungunya cases had been reported in Réunion since 2010. A major outbreak in 2005–2006 affected around 260,000 people and caused over 200 deaths. Authorities now hope to prevent a repeat of that crisis through prevention efforts, mobilization of healthcare services, and an expanded vaccination campaign.