Key Points 

Since late January (Week 4), 338 cases of chikungunya have been laboratory-confirmed in French Guiana. In S19, 71 cases were confirmed, compared to 52 in S18, reflecting an increase in cases across the territory. The epidemic continues along the western coast, with a rise in confirmed cases and emergency room visits for symptoms clinically suggestive of chikungunya. Furthermore, the virus is spreading across the territory, with two new outbreaks detected in the Savanes sector in S19, which is moving toward the epidemic outbreak phase; Cayenne Island has been in the epidemic outbreak phase since S18, during which the first outbreak was detected.

Hospital surveillance has identified 50 hospitalized cases, 70% of which are mild, 20% are atypical, and 10% are severe. One death has been recorded among the severe cases, and its attribution to the chikungunya virus is currently being evaluated by infectious disease specialists.

The Western Coast is at the “alert level” under the ORSEC plan for combating arboviruses.