Suriname has reported its first confirmed cases of chikungunya virus in nearly ten years, prompting urgent public health measures and calls for coordinated action between government and citizens. The Bureau for Public Health (BOG) confirmed the outbreak in January 2026, with epidemiological evidence suggesting initial infections may have occurred as early as December 2025.
Acting Head of Environmental Inspection at BOG, Stephanie Cheuk A Lam, revealed that the outbreak follows a predictable pattern, with an expected peak period of three to four months before gradual decline. Given the timeline of initial infections, health authorities anticipate seeing reduced transmission within coming months.
The resurgence appears to have been imported from outside Suriname before establishing local transmission through Aedes mosquitoes. Confirmed cases are concentrated in Paramaribo’s northern districts, city center, and Kwatta area, with additional infections reported in Wanica, Commewijne, and Marowijne (Moengo).
In response to the outbreak, multiple BOG departments have mobilized in collaboration with Public Works. Current efforts include removal of bulk waste in high-risk areas, household inspections by environmental officers, larval control operations, and entomological studies on mosquito density.
Cheuk A Lam emphasized that source reduction remains critical: ‘Spraying alone is insufficient. Eliminating stagnant water around residences is essential. Only through collective effort can we effectively contain chikungunya’s spread.’
Suriname’s centralized laboratory conducts routine testing for multiple arboviruses including dengue, yellow fever, oropouche, and mayaro, enabling health authorities to confirm no chikungunya infections have been detected in the country over the past decade. Beyond laboratory-confirmed cases, BOG is also monitoring suspected cases and one probable case.
With no specific medication or vaccine available, treatment focuses solely on symptom management, making prevention and containment the primary defense against further spread.