The rapid spread of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus is exposing critical vulnerabilities in the Caribbean region’s public health data collection and information-sharing practices.

The Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) reports that 113 deaths in the Caribbean have been caused by chikungunya since 18 November 2013, when five residents of (French) St Martin presented with symptoms. But there are significant differences between the chikungunya statistics being quoted by journalists and public health officials. The discrepancies suggest that real-time data are not being effectively collected, processed and presented by Caribbean media and public health institutions.

A new open journalism project is now attempting to quantify, explain and reduce the differences between chikungunya statistics being quoted by journalists and public health officials.

This page contains data provided by citizens, journalists and citizen journalists. The data are vetted before being included here. Chikungunya (CHIKV) has been a fast-moving, border-hopping phenomenon in the Americas. By utilising less-formal sources, but still in a systematic manner, current and accurate information can be gained early enough to help the separate authorities and populations better understand the epidemic and retard the crisis.