A disabling mosquito-borne disease that has hit the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion is starting to affect the tourism industry.

According to news reports some overseas visitors are cancelling their vacations.

Air France told Agence France Presse that reservations for flights between France and Reunion over the next three months had plummeted by 15 percent compared to normal levels.

Cases have been recorded in the nearby French island of Mayotte, as well as in on Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles.

There have also been a few cases among those arriving in France from Reunion.

Chikungunya, a disease believed to have originated in Africa leads to arthritic-type symptoms.

However, it is generally non-fatal and patients eventually recover.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sought to reassure tourists it was safe to travel to the Indian Ocean region.
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