Virological surveillance of chikungunya in Burkina Faso in 2024

Abstract

Chikungunya is an emerging arbovirus disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes , mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus . Since it was first identified in Tanzania in 1952, the virus has caused numerous epidemics around the world. Despite arbovirus surveillance since 2017 through sentinel and non-sentinel sites in Burkina Faso, the National Reference Laboratory for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (LNR-FHV) confirmed the first cases of Chikungunya in 2023. In spite of a few cases detected in 2024, data on the circulation of the virus remain fragmentary. The objective of this study is to document cases of Chikungunya in 2024 in Burkina Faso. From January to December 2024, the LNR-FHV received and analyzed 5,821 serum samples from suspected or probable arbovirus cases collected from various sentinel sites, health districts, and medical facilities, using real-time RT-PCR. The tests were performed using a triplex kit (ZDC), a reagent that allows the simultaneous detection of the RNA of three arboviruses (chikungunya, dengue, and Zika). Of the 5,821 samples tested, 107 cases were confirmed, representing a percentage of positivity case of 1.84%. Women accounted for 54.20% of confirmed cases. The most affected age group was 25–64 years old, with a frequency of 50.47%. No significant association was found between gender ( p = 0.28), age ( p = 0.73), and infection. The peak was observed in October, accounting for 34.58% of confirmed cases. The Kadiogo region was the most affected by the infection. This study confirms the circulation of the chikungunya virus in Burkina Faso and highlights the importance of strengthening surveillance, improving diagnosis, and intensifying vector control to prevent outbreaks and better understand the dynamics of the virus.