Chikungunya and Zika are spread in Thailand by the same daytime-biting mosquitoes as dengue, and both are reported every year. For most travelers chikungunya means a fever with joint pain that can linger for months, while Zika is usually mild but matters a great deal if you are pregnant or plan a pregnancy, for women and men alike.
Both viruses get less attention than dengue because they cause fewer severe illnesses. They are still worth knowing, partly because the first days of all three look alike, and partly because Zika comes with specific waiting times before trying for a baby. This page explains how the two differ from each other and from dengue, what the latest official figures show, and what the UK and US health agencies advise.
Chikungunya and Zika in Thailand (checked October 2026)
- Spread by
- Aedes mosquitoes, which bite mainly in the daytime (the same species as dengue)
- Chikungunya cases
- 1,379 in 2025, about double 2024, highest in the north and Chiang Mai (TravelHealthPro)
- Zika cases
- 433 cases and 6 deaths in 46 provinces, January 2024 to February 2025 (TravelHealthPro)
- Chikungunya vaccine
- Exists; the CDC and UK say it "may be considered" for long stays or outbreaks
- Zika vaccine
- None, and no medicine to prevent infection (UKHSA)
- Before trying for a baby
- Wait 2 months after a woman's last possible exposure, 3 months if a man traveled (UKHSA)
The same mosquito as dengue, a different virus
Chikungunya is not a type of dengue. The three are separate viruses carried by the same Aedes mosquitoes, the striped ones that bite mainly during the day. Thailand's Department of Disease Control (DDC) even names chikungunya after them: its Thai name, khai puat kho yung lai (ไข้ปวดข้อยุงลาย), means roughly "Aedes joint-pain fever".
That shared mosquito is good news in one way: the habits that protect you against dengue protect you against all three. Our article with tips for avoiding mosquito bites covers repellents, clothing and rooms, so we do not repeat them here. Malaria is a different story, carried by night-biting mosquitoes in forest along the borders; our page on malaria in Thailand explains where that risk is.
How common they are: the latest figures
For chikungunya, the newest dated national figure we could verify is 1,379 cases in 2025 (as of 29 December 2025), reported by the UK's TravelHealthPro service. That was about double the 2024 total, with the highest numbers in the north and in Chiang Mai, a reason for visitors to Chiang Mai to take daytime bites seriously. News reports give higher counts for 2026, but without a clear year or date, so we do not repeat them.
For Zika, TravelHealthPro reported 433 cases and six deaths in 46 provinces between January 2024 and 7 February 2025. In 2025 the cases it listed were in the northeast, including Nakhon Ratchasima (the province around Korat and Phimai), Buriram, Chaiyaphum and Surin. Two UK cases of Zika linked to travel in Thailand were reported in 2026, as of July.
The DDC published a new national Zika guideline for health workers in 2026. Its foreword appears to give 245 cases for 2025 and 43 so far in 2026, but parts of the Thai text in the PDF cannot be read by machine and the cut-off date is not legible, so treat those two numbers as approximate.
On the US CDC's Zika map, Thailand sits in the category for countries where the virus has spread now or in the past (classification of May 2026). In October 2026 it had no Zika or chikungunya travel notice for Thailand; its only notice for the country was a global measles alert.
Chikungunya: fever, then joint pain that can last
According to the CDC, most people infected with chikungunya develop symptoms, usually three to seven days after the bite. The main ones are fever and joint pain. Most people feel better within a week, but the joint pain can be severe and disabling and may persist for months. The UK describes it as a flu-like illness with severe joint and muscle pains that usually improve in one to two weeks but may last months or even years. It is rarely fatal.
There is no medicine that treats the virus itself. The CDC says rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain medicines may relieve some symptoms. Because a fever in Thailand could just as well be dengue, which has its own warning signs and its own rules on painkillers, do not treat yourself on a guess: see a doctor and get tested. The CDC notes that a provider can test for chikungunya and for similar viruses such as dengue and Zika.
The lingering joint pain is the part that catches people out. If you are on a long trip, expect a slow return to hiking, diving or long days of walking, and keep a note of when the illness began for your doctor at home.
Zika: often mild, but a risk in pregnancy
Many people infected with Zika have no symptoms or only mild ones, the CDC says. When there are symptoms, the most common are fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes (conjunctivitis) and muscle pain, and they usually last from several days to a week. Rarely, Zika is followed by Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition of the nerves that causes weakness.
The serious risk is to an unborn baby. The UK says Zika infection in pregnancy can cause congenital Zika syndrome, which includes microcephaly (an abnormally small head). There is no vaccine and no medicine to prevent infection. Zika can also pass between sexual partners, although the UK says only a small number of such cases have been reported.
Dengue, chikungunya or Zika: how they compare
At the start, all three can look like a bad flu with fever, aches and sometimes a rash. These are the differences the official sources describe:
| Chikungunya | Zika | Dengue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical picture | Fever and joint pain (CDC) | Often no or mild symptoms; rash, red eyes, fever (CDC) | See our dengue page |
| How long | Usually about a week; joint pain can last months or years | Several days to a week | See our dengue page |
| Main concern | Long-lasting, disabling joint pain | Harm to an unborn baby; rarely Guillain-Barré | Severe dengue with warning signs |
| Vaccine | Yes, for some travelers | No | Yes; the UK limits it mainly to people who have had dengue before |
Dengue is far more common in Thailand than the other two and is the one with an emergency phase. Our guide to dengue fever in Thailand lists its warning signs, which apply to any fever until a test says otherwise. A blood test is how doctors tell the three apart; the private and public hospitals described in our hospital guide can run one.
Zika advice for couples, including men
The UK Health Security Agency gives the clearest timings, counted from the "last possible exposure". That means whichever came later: leaving Thailand, or the last sex without a condom with a partner who may have been infected.
- Only the woman traveled: avoid becoming pregnant for 2 months after her last possible exposure.
- The man traveled, alone or with his partner: avoid conception for 3 months.
- Pregnant during the trip, or pregnant within 2 months of it: contact your GP, obstetrician or midwife, even if you have not been unwell.
Once a woman is pregnant, the CDC says her partner's travel matters too: if the partner has been in a Zika-risk area, use condoms or abstain until the baby is born. Rather than advising against a trip to Thailand in pregnancy, the UK and US leave that decision to the woman and her health provider. Our page on traveling to Thailand while pregnant covers that decision, along with airlines, vaccines and insurance.
No symptoms does not mean no Zika. Many infections cause no illness at all, and the UK notes that the NHS does not test returning travelers who have no symptoms. The waiting times above apply whether or not you felt ill, so plan them in before you book if a pregnancy is on your mind.
If you need condoms or other contraception during the trip, our page on contraception in Thailand explains what pharmacies sell.
The chikungunya vaccine: who it is for
The CDC says the chikungunya risk in Thailand is elevated and that vaccination may be considered for people staying for an extended period, such as six months or more. In the United States one vaccine is available, VIMKUNYA, a non-live vaccine approved for people aged 12 and over; pregnant women should discuss its risks and benefits with a provider. The UK says a chikungunya vaccine may be considered for people aged 12 and over who are going to an area with a current outbreak, who travel long-term or often to higher-risk regions, or who are exposed through their work.
For a two-week holiday, neither agency suggests it routinely. We could not confirm whether any chikungunya vaccine is registered or offered in Thailand, so arrange it at home if you want it. Our guide to vaccinations for Thailand covers the rest of the list.
Frequently asked questions
Is there Zika in Thailand in 2026?
Yes. Thailand is on the CDC's list of places where Zika has spread now or in the past, the UK says there is a risk, and two UK travelers caught Zika in Thailand in 2026 as of July. There was no CDC Zika travel notice for Thailand in October 2026.
How long does chikungunya joint pain last?
Most people feel better within a week or two, but the CDC says the joint pain can be severe and last for months, and the UK says it may persist for years in some people. See a doctor if the pain stops you walking or working normally.
How long should a man wait after Thailand before trying for a baby?
The UK advises avoiding conception for 3 months after a man's last possible Zika exposure, whether he traveled alone or with his partner. If only the woman traveled, the UK advises 2 months.
Can I tell chikungunya from dengue myself?
No. The early symptoms overlap, and dengue has warning signs that need hospital care. A blood test is the way to tell them apart, so see a doctor if you develop a fever in Thailand or soon after returning.
Sources
- UKHSA TravelHealthPro – Thailand: chikungunya, Zika and outbreak reports (checked October 2026)
- CDC – Thailand traveler view: chikungunya and travel notices (checked October 2026)
- CDC – Symptoms of chikungunya (updated 22 June 2026) (checked October 2026)
- CDC – Chikungunya vaccines (updated 23 January 2026) (checked October 2026)
- CDC – Symptoms of Zika (checked October 2026)
- CDC – Zika risk areas (checked October 2026)
- Department of Disease Control – National guideline on Zika virus disease prevention and control, 2026 (in Thai, PDF) (checked October 2026)