Facts to Know About Chikungunya Virus as China Reports 7,000 Cases
- Over 7,000 cases of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus have emerged across China’s Guangdong province since July, sparking swift public health action
- Foshan city, the hardest-hit area, has enforced hospital stays and mosquito net protections for infected patients
- Authorities are deploying mosquito-eating fish, drones, and fines to curb the outbreak, drawing comparisons to Covid-era containment measures
China’s southern Guangdong province has recorded over 7,000 cases of chikungunya virus since July, prompting authorities to roll out sweeping public health measures reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The outbreak has triggered concern among residents and drawn international attention, with the US advising travellers to exercise “increased caution.”
Source: UGC
Chikungunya virus symptoms and origins
Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus, is known for causing high fever and debilitating joint pain, which can persist for months or even years.
While rarely fatal, the disease poses a greater risk to newborns, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
Symptoms typically appear within three to seven days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. In addition to fever and joint pain, patients may experience rash, headache, muscle aches, and swollen joints. Most recover within a week, though severe cases can linger.
The virus was first identified in Tanzania in 1952 and has since spread to over 110 countries, particularly in South and South East Asia and parts of Africa. Outbreaks in China remain rare.
Chikungunya cases surge in Guangdong province
Foshan city has emerged as the epicentre of the outbreak, with patients required to remain in hospital beds protected by mosquito nets. Discharge is only permitted after a negative test or a mandatory seven-day stay. Officials reported nearly 3,000 new cases in the past week alone, and at least 12 other cities in Guangdong have confirmed infections.
On Monday, Hong Kong registered its first case—a 12-year-old boy who had travelled to Foshan in July and later developed fever, rash, and joint pain.
Despite the surge, authorities have stated that all reported cases have been mild, with 95% of patients discharged within a week. However, the unfamiliarity of the virus has stirred anxiety among the public.
“This is scary. The prolonged consequences sound very painful,” one user wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
China’s response to Chikungunya outbreak
In response to the outbreak, Guangdong officials have pledged “decisive and forceful measures” to curb the spread. Residents are being urged to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, joint pain, or rashes.
Authorities have also launched aggressive mosquito control campaigns. Residents face fines of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) if they fail to eliminate stagnant water in household items like flowerpots and spare bottles. In Foshan, drones are being deployed to detect breeding grounds, while 5,000 mosquito-eating fish were released into local lakes last week.
Additionally, the province is introducing giant “elephant mosquitoes” that prey on smaller, virus-carrying mosquitoes.
Some cities initially imposed a 14-day home quarantine on travellers from Foshan, though the measure has since been lifted. The restrictions have drawn comparisons to China’s pandemic-era policies, which included quarantine camps and lockdowns of entire neighbourhoods.
“These feel so familiar… But are they really necessary?” one Weibo user questioned. Another commented, “What’s the point of the quarantine? It’s not as though an infected patient will then go around biting other people?”
Preventing Chikungunya, WHO recommendations
The World Health Organization has emphasised that the most effective way to prevent chikungunya is to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. This includes reducing stagnant water in both public and private spaces.
Although the virus is not contagious between humans, it spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person and then transmits the virus to others through subsequent bites.
Source: Twitter
FG confirms outbreak of deadly disease in Nigeria
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has confirmed an outbreak of anthrax on a farm in Zamfara State and has called for heightened vigilance and immediate measures to contain the disease.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the director of information and public relations, Ben Goong.
Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a zoonotic disease that can affect various warm-blooded animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, wildlife, and humans.
Source: Legit.ng
