Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
04-03-2026
What happened, where and when?
On March 4, 2026 Suriname's Ministry of Health has confirmed a significant increase in the cases of chikungunya virus (CHIK V) following the previous declaration of outbreak in late January. Based on the Central Laboratory of the Bureau for Public Health (BOG) and the laboratory of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo, over 1,357 individuals have tested positive, confirming local transmission and one confirmed death and another to be determined. Despite the confirmation number, according to the Caribbean Public Health Agency's (CARPHA) report, PAHO and the Ministry of Health in Suriname, it is estimated that the number of infected persons is much higher, given typical health‐seeking behavior patterns, hence it is believed that the number of infections may be up to three times higher, meaning the actual caseload could be approximately 4,000 cases by the second week of March. This aligns with regional observations that many ChikV‐infected individuals do not present to a health facility unless symptoms are severe. Surveillance data primarily reflects laboratory-confirmed cases, and community transmission may be underestimated due to incomplete capture of milder cases.
Eight of ten districts have now reported confirmed cases of Chikungunya in Suriname: Paramaribo, Marowijne, Wanica, Nickerie, Commewijne; Tamansari, Richelieu, Para, Coronie. Symptom onset dates range from 18 December 2025 to February 2026, with a progressive increase in cases during the second half of January, consistent with early outbreak detection. According to CARPHA "Watching Brief on Re-Emerging Diseases dated March 4, 2026 CARPHA has elevated the relative risk of Chikungunya outbreaks across other CARPHA Member States from "Moderate" to "High". This because of the given high degree of exposure to Aedes mosquitoes, the ease of movements of persons across the Caribbean and the significant increase in Chikungunya cases in Suriname.
Suriname’s first documented chikungunya outbreak occurred in June 2014 and lasted four months, when the virus was identified locally during the wider regional spread of chikungunya throughout the Caribbean and neighboring territories. The total number of tested cases in 2014 was 700; the current outbreak appears to progress faster than the recored 12 years ago, as total estimated cases have increased substantially. The Bureau for Public Health has initiated comprehensive epidemiological investigations, including contact racing, additional diagnostic testing, and heightened surveillance activities, with the objective of preventing further transmission. Chikungunya is an arboviral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the same vectors responsible for dengue, Zika virus infection, and yellow fever. Clinical manifestations typically include the acute onset of fever, severe joint pain accompanied by swelling, headache, fatigue, and, in some instances, a maculopapular rash. The virus is not transmitted directly from person to person, and individuals who recover from infection generally develop lifelong immunity.
In addition, it is expected that CHIK-V cases might noticeable increase in the upcoming months during the rainy season in Suriname which starts from Mid- April until mil August, as rainfall creates standing water that serves for the development of Aedes mosquitoes. In The above gives an indication that in the coming weeks an increase in the numbers of infection will occur.