The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 2 travel notice for Sri Lanka, advising travellers to “practice enhanced precautions.”

Issued earlier this month, the notice cites chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease. Outbreaks have been reported in parts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the Indian and Pacific regions.

Most people infected with the chikungunya virus develop symptoms, which typically begin three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. While most people recover within a week, some experience severe joint pain that can persist for months or even years.