China’s Guangdong province is facing a Chikungunya outbreak and has reported over 7,000 cases of the mosquito-borne virus since July. The city of Foshan has emerged as the epicentre of the outbreak. Following the surge in case, hospitals in China have mandated isolation for infected patients. Hospital beds have been covered with mosquito nets and patients are discharged only after a week of treatment or a confirmed negative test result.
The outbreak has resulted in authorities implementing containment protocols like that during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chikungunya is prevalent in South and Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. The viral infection is, however, rare in China. The latest outbreak has been linked to imported cases.
The virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, causes high fever and intense joint pain, symptoms that can persist for months or even years.
US issues travel advisory
In response, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 travel alert last week. It has urged American citizens visiting China to exercise heightened precautions.
According to the World Health Organization, Chikungunya is caused by the CHIKV virus, an RNA virus from the alphavirus genus. First identified in Tanzania in 1952, the disease has since triggered major outbreaks in Asia, Africa and the Americas.
What is China doing to control the outbreak?
Over 3,000 new Chikungunya cases were reported in parts of China in the past week alone. While Foshan remains the epicentre, at least 12 other cities in southern Guangdong province have confirmed infections.
Hong Kong on Monday reported its first case where a 12-year-old boy showed symptoms of fever, rash and joint pain after returning from Foshan in July.
Chikungunya is not contagious between people but spreads when an infected individual is bitten by a mosquito that later bites others. Health officials say 95% of the cases so far have been mild, with patients recovering within a week.
Still, the unfamiliar virus has sparked concern. Authorities are urging residents to eliminate stagnant water sources like flowerpots and coffee machines. Failure to comply could lead to fines of up to 10,000 yuan (over Rs 1.22 lakh).
To curb the mosquito population, authorities are deploying methods like releasing giant “elephant mosquitoes” that prey on smaller, virus-carrying mosquitoes and adding 5,000 mosquito-eating fish to city lakes. In parts of Foshan, drones are now being flown over residential areas to spot standing water and prevent further spread.