SOUTHERN CHINA HIT BY CHIKUNGUNYA MOSQUITO-BORNE OUTBREAK. (PHOTO).

 Southern China hit by chikungunya mosquito-borne outbreak

China is currently facing an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness, with thousands of cases reported in the southern region. As of Friday, the number of confirmed chikungunya fever cases surged to 4,014, a sharp increase since local authorities began tracking infections about two weeks ago. The city of Foshan, in Guangdong province, has been particularly hard hit by the outbreak.

Chikungunya is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes and typically causes fever and intense joint pain, though deaths are rare, according to the World Health Organization. Officials from China’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention described the outbreak as “quite severe” during a news conference in Foshan. The Chinese CDC has issued recommendations to help prevent the spread of chikungunya and dengue fever, including using physical barriers such as screen doors, mosquito nets, and applying mosquito repellent. The agency also urged individuals experiencing symptoms like fever, rash, and joint pain to seek medical attention promptly. Most cases—about 90%—are concentrated in Foshan’s Shunde district, a popular destination known for its Cantonese cuisine. To manage the rising patient load, local authorities have nearly doubled the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds to over 7,200. Residents are also being reminded to eliminate standing water at home to reduce mosquito breeding sites, with fines of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) possible for violations. Although China has seen isolated chikungunya cases in the past, including a spike in 2010, this current outbreak marks a significant increase in infections.