What is the chikungunya virus, how are countries such as China battling it?

What is the chikungunya virus, how are countries such as China battling it?

Travelers are urged to remain alert as a mosquito-borne virus continues to spread throughout parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Indian Ocean, according to health officials in the United States.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECD), there have been 90 deaths and 240, 000 chikungunya virus infections since the start of 2025 in 16 nations.

Since late June, a severe outbreak has affected roughly 7, 000 people in China, with the majority of cases occurring in Foshan, a city in Guangdong province, which is located just north of Hong Kong. Since the virus was first discovered in the area in 2008, this is the country’s largest chikungunya outbreak.

What are our current knowledge and understanding of the disease’s spread?

The Chikungunya virus: what is it?

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that have been infected with Chikungunya are the source of the viral illness. Dengue, yellow fever, and the Zika virus are also spread by these mosquitoes.

Chikungunya, a name that comes from a word that is used in Tanzania and Mozambique, which means “to become contorted.”

Patients usually feel better within a week. However, joint pain can last for months or even years in many cases.

Although the chikungunya virus has no known cure, it does occasionally die. A healthy person is injected with the virus by an infected mosquito into their bloodstream.

Newborns, older adults, and those with existing health issues like heart disease or diabetes are the most susceptible to a serious illness caused by chikungunya.

The chikungunya virus has no known cure, but high-risk populations are the only ones who die.

A healthy person is injected with the virus by an infected mosquito into their bloodstream. A non-infected mosquito bites a person who is already infected and turns them into carriers that can spread the virus through their bites.

How widespread is the virus right now?

The current outbreak, which included major outbreaks in the Indian Ocean Islands La Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius, was caused by the World Health Organization (WHO) in early 2025.

Up until May 2025, more than 47,500 cases of chikungunya and 12 associated deaths were reported in La Reunion, with a high rate of island-wide transmission, according to the WHO. Additionally, La Reunion’s reported more than 54 000 cases as of July 18 according to the ECDC.

Since the 2005-2006 epidemic, which estimated 244, 000 to more than 300, 000 cases, and spurred large-scale public health efforts to stop mosquito breeding and stop transmission, is now the most serious chikungunya outbreak in La Reunion.

The virus has also spread to other nations, including Kenya, Somalia, and Madagascar, and it has shown signs of epidemic-level transmission in parts of Southeast Asia, as well as India, where the city’s financial capital, Mumbai, has seen a rise in cases since July.

Concerned by the rising number of imported chikungunya cases in Europe, the WHO also raised questions. On top of that, 800 imported cases have been reported in mainland France as of May 1.

The Americas as a region have the highest number of chikungunya cases globally, according to the ECDC. As of mid-July 2025, the countries with the most cases in the region include Brazil (185, 553), Bolivia (4, 721), Argentina (2, 836) and Peru (55).

In addition to Foshan, infections have been reported in at least 12 cities in southern Guangdong province in China.

Chinese authorities claimed in July that an “imported case triggered local transmission,” but they did not specify where the illness came from. Experts believe that the rise in global temperatures has made the weather more savanna and humid, allowing mosquitoes to thrive.

On Saturday, Hong Kong officially revealed its first case of chikungunya: a 12-year-old boy who had been visiting Foshan and had a fever, rash, and joint pain since July 31. This was the first virus case in six years in the territory.

Interactive_Chikungunya_October24_2024-symptoms

How are the spread being fought by China and other nations?

China has promised to take swift and decisive action to stop the spread of the Chikungunya virus, according to a Bloomberg news report.

Mosquitoes are breeding there using drones. Scientists are also releasing large “elephant mosquitoes” that are about 2 cm (0, 8 inches) long and whose larvae eat the smaller mosquitoes that spread the virus at the same time. According to experts, these mosquito repellents will help to reduce the outbreak.

Residents of affected areas of China have been instructed to dispose of standing water in and around their homes, including in flowerpots, coffee tables, and empty bottles, according to a report from the BBC. In more serious cases, people could face criminal charges for “obstructing the prevention of infectious diseases,” as well as fines of up to 10,000 yuan (approximately $1, 400).

According to The New York Times, infected residents in Foshan are sometimes moved to “quarantine wards,” where they are kept behind mosquito nets and screens, citing local sources. Some patients claim they were left with no choice but to pay for their own medical care.

Authorities have also spearheaded increased surveillance, mosquito control initiatives, and targeted vaccination campaigns in places like La Reunion and Mayotte.

After a case was discovered in Hendaye, just across the French border, the Basque Country in Spain began implementing preventive measures. In addition to increasing border town surveillance, the protocols encourage users to report incidents using apps like Mosquito Alert.

What can be done to treat and prevent chikungunya?

The most effective way to stop chikungunya from spreading is to protect yourself from mosquito bites, according to experts.

This might involve wearing long sleeves and pants, applying mosquito repellent, removing standing water bodies where mosquitoes can breed, and staying indoors or behind mosquito netting when outdoors.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that while there are no specific treatments for the virus, rest, fluids, and pain relievers may help alleviate symptoms.

However, some painkillers might not be effective when there is a case of an infection. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) should not be used until dengue is eliminated, as they can increase the risk of bleeding.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are examined at the entomology department of the Health Ministry, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, July 22, 2024. REUTERS/Josue Decavele
In Guatemala City, Guatemala, in 2024, the health ministry’s entomology department examines Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Source: Aljazeera

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