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Mosquito-Borne Virus Spreads to New York, Experts Warn of Growing Threat
17 Nov
Summary
- Chikungunya virus, usually found in tropical regions, has arrived in suburban New York
- Diseases once confined to tropics are now spreading to the U.S., posing serious health and economic risks
- PAHO Director calls for adopting Latin America's strategies to prevent and control mosquito-borne illnesses
As of November 17, 2025, a concerning trend has emerged in the United States, with tropical diseases once confined to other regions now spreading across the country. A recent case in Long Island, New York, has highlighted the arrival of the chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne illness typically found in East Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, but rarely seen in suburban America.
The chikungunya virus causes fever and extreme joint pain, and its presence in New York is part of a larger pattern. Diseases that were once limited to tropical climates are now infiltrating the U.S., putting more people at risk. For years, countries across Latin America and the Caribbean have battled these same mosquito-borne threats and have developed effective strategies to manage them.
Jarbas Barbosa, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Americas, emphasizes the importance of drawing on this hard-earned expertise from the region. He stresses that the region's lessons in surveillance, vector control, and outbreak response are crucial resources to protect the health and security of Americans.
The spread of these diseases is driven by a combination of factors, including warming temperatures, expanding cities, mosquito adaptation, and migrating insect species, creating ideal conditions for outbreaks. If left unchecked, the consequences could be severe, affecting the health, economic well-being, and overall security of the American people.
