Indian Ocean region safe despite fever outbreak: WHO

By Nita Bhalla

PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) sought to reassure tourists it was safe to travel to the Indian Ocean region, despite a crippling mosquito-borne virus that has infected some 150,000 people.

The "Chikungunya" fever, for which there is no cure or vaccine, has been spreading through Reunion, Mauritius and Seychelles since January.

Mauritius has so far had 1,298 confirmed cases and 4,706 suspected cases and authorities are awaiting test results after the death of a 33-year-old man last week.

At the end of a three-day visit to Mauritius to assess efforts to control the outbreak, a team of WHO experts told a news conference there was no reason for visitors to be concerned.

"There is no WHO restriction to travel to Mauritius and there have been no restrictions to travel to Reunion even when it was at peak of the epidemic," Pierre Formenty from the WHO told a news conference.

Mauritius relies heavily on tourism for foreign revenue, with more than 700,000 tourists flocking to its white sand beaches every year, generating around $800 million annually.

Facing major losses due to the erosion of trade preferences to its sugar and textiles exports, the government is investing in promoting its tourism industry to accelerate economic growth.

While the neighboring French volcanic island of Reunion has reported 157,000 cases and 77 deaths linked to the virus and tour operators have seen cancellations in bookings, Mauritius says tourism there has not been affected.

"We actually saw an increase of 18 percent in tourist arrivals in January compared to last year so I don't believe tourism is at risk," said a ministry of tourism official.

Seychelles, which reported at least 1,000 cases in February, say numbers have declined with the end of heavy rains and there has been no impact on tourism.

The disease, first recognized in Tanzania in 1952, is marked by high fever and severe rashes and can be extremely painful.

The WHO does not believe the tropical virus is fatal, but health experts say it can weaken the immune system, allowing other deadly diseases to set it.