Florida chikungunya cases continue rise, 70% related to Haiti travel
The number of travel-associated chikungunya cases continue its rise in the United States, with no state experiencing the introduction of this mosquito borne virus like Florida.
During the week ending June 14, the Florida Department of Health reported an additional 17 imported cases, bringing the total cases in the Sunshine State to 42.
The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chikungunya update for the United States shows Florida accounting for 61% of imported cases nationally.
Of the 42 cases reported to date, 31, or 73% of cases involve travel to Haiti. The latest case count from Haiti is 27,000; however, many experts believe the real case count to be much higher.
In addition to Haiti, other countries of origin include Dominica, Dominican Republic (8) and Martinique (2).
Nineteen Florida counties have now reported cases: Brevard, Broward (7), Charlotte, Clay, Duval (2), Flagler, Hillsborough (3), Lake, Lee, Leon, Miami-Dade (7), Orange (3), Osceola, Palm Beach (7), Pasco, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Volusia.
Imported dengue fever cases in Florida is unchanged at 24 cases, while imported malaria cases increased by four cases to 18 total as of June 14. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page