“Chikungunya Outbreak Grips China”: 7,000 Cases Reported In Guangdong.
China is grappling with a significant outbreak of the chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne illness, with over 7,000 cases confirmed in Guangdong province since July, according to health officials. The surge in infections has prompted swift action from authorities, with measures reminiscent of those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The outbreak, centred in the city of Foshan, has seen nearly 3,000 cases reported in the past week alone, marking it as China’s largest chikungunya outbreak in nearly two decades. The virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, causes high fever, severe joint pain, and rashes, with symptoms typically appearing within three to seven days of a bite. While most patients recover within a week, some experience lingering joint pain that can persist for months or even years. The elderly, newborns, and those with underlying conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, are at higher risk of severe illness, though fatalities remain rare.
Hong Kong reported its first case on Monday, involving a 12-year-old boy who developed fever, rash, and joint pain after visiting Foshan. The virus is not contagious between humans but spreads when mosquitoes bite infected individuals and then others, raising concerns about further transmission in densely populated areas. “This is scary. The prolonged consequences sound very painful,” one user wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo, reflecting public unease about the unfamiliar virus.
Guangdong authorities have launched “decisive and forceful measures” to curb the outbreak, including fines of up to 10,000 yuan (£1,100) for residents who fail to eliminate stagnant water in their homes, such as in flowerpots or unused bottles, where mosquitoes breed. In Foshan, patients are being hospitalised and treated under mosquito nets to prevent further transmission. Innovative efforts include releasing “elephant mosquitoes,” which prey on smaller, virus-carrying mosquitoes, and deploying mosquito-eating fish in local lakes.
The World Health Organization notes that chikungunya, first identified in Tanzania in 1952, is common in South and Southeast Asia and parts of Africa but rare in China. The current outbreak has prompted the United States to issue a Level 2 travel advisory, urging travellers to exercise “increased caution” in affected areas. Two vaccines, IXCHIQ and VIMKUNYA, are available in the US for travellers to outbreak zones, but they are not widely accessible in China.
Health officials report that 95% of cases have been mild, with most patients recovering swiftly. However, the rapid spread—coupled with the virus’s presence in at least 12 other cities in Guangdong—has heightened concerns. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that, as of July 2025, over 240,000 chikungunya cases and 90 deaths have been recorded globally across 16 countries, underscoring the virus’s growing reach, potentially exacerbated by climate change enabling mosquitoes to thrive in new regions.
As China ramps up its response, the outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by mosquito-borne diseases in a warming world. Authorities continue to urge residents to seek testing for symptoms and take preventive measures, such as using insect repellent and installing window screens, to halt the virus’s spread.
