by I. Edwards
Well being officers in China are reporting greater than 8,000 instances of chikungunya, a virus unfold by mosquitoes that may trigger fever and painful joints.
The outbreak is centered in Foshan, a metropolis within the southeastern province of Guangdong with almost 10 million folks. Hong Kong, Macao and Hunan province—greater than 400 miles north—have additionally reported instances.
In response, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning for vacationers headed to China and different nations coping with outbreaks, together with Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
Chikungunya may cause critical ache, particularly within the joints.
“[It] can leave people disabled for weeks, months and potentially years,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious illness skilled on the College of California, San Francisco, instructed The Washington Publish.
The chikungunya virus is unfold by two varieties of mosquitoes: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The virus is widespread in lots of heat areas, together with Asia, Africa and the Americas, in keeping with the World Well being Group.
Mosquitoes grow to be contaminated once they chunk somebody who already has the virus, in keeping with the CDC. They will then go the virus to others via new bites.
The virus could possibly be handed via blood transfusions or contact with contaminated blood. It’s not unfold by coughing, sneezing or touching.
Signs normally start three to seven days after an individual is bitten by an contaminated mosquito, the CDC says. These embody fever, joint ache, complications, rash and extra.
Although chikungunya is never lethal, the joint ache can final for a very long time. Older adults, infants and other people with situations like hypertension, diabetes or coronary heart illness usually tend to get significantly in poor health.
As of July, about 240,000 chikungunya instances have been reported worldwide this 12 months, and 90 folks have died, in keeping with the European Heart for Illness Prevention and Management.
There isn’t a particular drugs to remedy chikungunya, however two vaccines are actually accepted within the U.S., with the primary receiving approval in 2023, The Publish stated.
Nevertheless, China would not have entry to these vaccines. As an alternative, well being officers there are utilizing different strategies to sluggish the outbreak, reminiscent of utilizing drones to spray mosquito repellent and releasing fish into ponds to eat mosquito larvae. Hospitals are required to report new instances inside at some point, The Publish reported.
To forestall mosquito bites, the CDC recommends carrying lengthy sleeves and pants when outside, utilizing insect repellent and staying inside locations with air-con or screened home windows.
Additional, vaccines are beneficial for folks touring to areas with outbreaks, particularly for people staying for prolonged durations.
Chin-Hong added that vaccines are a serious step ahead.
“It will be a matter of implementing them in the places that need it the most,” he instructed The Publish.
Extra info:
The Cleveland Clinic has extra on the causes, signs and therapy choices for chikungunya.
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CDC warns vacationers after 8,000+ chikungunya instances reported in China (2025, August 8)
retrieved 8 August 2025
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