In Réunion Island, the chikungunya epidemic is taking a dramatic turn. In one week, more than 4 new cases have been reported. And this time, the youngest are paying a heavy price: thirteen infants under the age of one are hospitalized, including seven in intensive care, in a worrying condition. The pediatric emergency room at the CHU Sud in Saint-Pierre is under pressure. The infected babies are suffering intensely. Some scream as soon as they are touched. Unable to feed, they are given morphine. Their daily life is one of pain. Dr. Brahim Boumahni, a pediatrician at the CHU, describes a situation of rare violence: muscle and joint pain, incessant crying, heavy treatments. And a slow improvement after several days of intensive care.
Three of the hospitalized infants are less than 28 days old. The others have not yet reached three months. Two of them contracted the virus at birth: their mother was infected just before delivery. The virus crossed this fragile boundary between uterine life and the outside world. As a result, one in two babies is severely affected. The other cases were infected at home, in the first days of life. A total of 72 people are currently hospitalized, including eleven pregnant women. The epidemic makes no distinction.
Invisible but lasting after-effects
The virus's consequences for newborns don't stop with hospitalization. An Inserm study conducted during the 2005 epidemic in Réunion Island showed that children infected at birth are at increased risk of psychomotor delay by the age of two. Unlike an infection occurring during pregnancy—often benign—one contracted during childbirth can lead to serious neurological after-effects. The cause: the fragility of newborns' immune systems and the permeability of their tissues. Researchers suggest a high risk of encephalopathy. Since August 2024, nearly 13 cases have been recorded on the island. Two deaths have been reported, two people aged 600 and 86. To avoid overwhelming laboratories, authorities have decided to no longer systematically conduct confirmation tests in areas with high viral circulation. The watchwords remain unchanged: eliminate stagnant water, protect yourself from bites, and seek medical help if you experience symptoms. The virus doesn't wait.
