Chikungunya warning for travellers to Caribbean and South America

UK residents planning to travel to the Caribbean and South America are being warned about the potential dangers of the chikungunya virus.

This follows the release of new statistics from Public Health England, which show that there was a 12-fold increase in the number of diagnoses of the disease between 2013 and 2014, as they rose from 24 to 295.

Some 88 percent of cases are believed to have been acquired on visits to the Caribbean and South America, as the condition does not occur in the UK.

Chikungunya is a virus that can cause prolonged joint pains and fever and can be transmitted via contact with mosquitoes.

Currently, there is no preventative vaccine for the disease, meaning travellers need to be extra cautious regarding mosquito nets and other prevention tactics.

Dr Dipti Patel, joint director at the National Travel Health Network and Centre, advised: "To minimise the risk of mosquito bites, it is advisable to wear appropriate clothing to cover up, such as long-sleeved tops and trousers, and to use insect repellents."