After weeks of elevated transmission, Suriname has officially moved out of the epidemic phase of chikungunya, according to an announcement from the country’s Bureau for Public Health (BOG). While case numbers have dropped sharply across most of the nation, public health officials warn the mosquito-borne virus still circulates in local communities, and ongoing preventive action remains critical to avoid a new outbreak.
Stephanie Cheuk A Lam, acting head of BOG’s Environmental Inspection division, confirmed that both laboratory-confirmed cases and symptomatically diagnosed infections have declined to levels that no longer qualify as an epidemic. “We are now out of the epidemic phase. Chikungunya is still circulating at low levels in Suriname, but the case count is not high enough to trigger major public health concern,” Cheuk A Lam stated in an interview with Suriname’s Communication Service.
As of the early August update, residual cases are concentrated in two districts: Paramaribo and Brokopondo, where ongoing transmission is still being recorded. All other districts across the country have reported only sporadic isolated infections. BOG also addressed public confusion stirred by recent circulating media content that suggested a new surge in cases: the organization clarified that the widely shared images date back to June, and do not reflect the country’s current epidemiological situation.
Despite the encouraging decline in infections, BOG stresses that preventive measures cannot be relaxed. The single most critical step the public can take, officials say, is eliminating standing water sites where mosquitoes that carry chikungunya lay their eggs. “If every person does their part to clear mosquito breeding grounds, keep their surrounding communities clean, and stay alert, we can prevent another large outbreak from occurring,” Cheuk A Lam noted.
BOG points out that insecticide spraying alone is not enough to keep chikungunya under control long-term. Spraying only targets active adult mosquitoes at the time of application, leaving mosquito larvae and eggs untouched in standing water habitats. These dormant eggs and larvae can eventually develop into new mature mosquito populations, triggering a resurgence of transmission. For this reason, eliminating breeding sites entirely is a far more effective long-term strategy.
With the dry, warm seasonal period underway, BOG is urging the public to pay special attention to common, often overlooked breeding sites: plant pots, flower vases, animal water bowls, and other small standing water storage containers. Covered water storage containers, officials add, should be properly sealed and thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. “Just because the weather is dry does not mean we are free of mosquitoes,” Cheuk A Lam warned. Mosquito eggs can survive through entire dry seasons, and will hatch once rainfall returns, creating new populations if left unaddressed.
BOG also advised the public to take any potential chikungunya symptoms seriously and seek prompt medical attention if they develop. Common symptoms include fever, joint pain, retro-orbital pain (pain behind the eyes), and rashes. Because these symptoms overlap with multiple other tropical diseases, official medical assessment is critical to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care.
Moving forward, BOG will continue to closely monitor chikungunya transmission across the country through multiple channels, including routine laboratory testing, ongoing epidemiological surveillance, mandatory hospital reporting, and regular check-ins with targeted outpatient clinics across all districts.