A mosquito-borne infection chikungunya is spreading rapidly across southern China, with thousands of cases reported in the region. According to public records, the number of cases jumped to 4,014 on Friday, a significant increase since authorities started tracking them two weeks ago.
The city of Foshan in Guangdong province has been heavily impacted by the surge in infections, with experts describing the outbreak as “quite severe.” Chikungunya is spread through mosquito bites and causes fever and joint pain, but deaths are rare.
To prevent the spread of chikungunya and a similar disease called dengue fever, health authorities have recommended physical protection measures such as screen doors, mosquito nets for beds, and repellent on exposed skin. People who exhibit symptoms like fever, rash, and joint pain are advised to see a doctor.
Local authorities have also taken steps to contain the outbreak by increasing the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds and urging residents to eliminate standing water in their homes. Failure to do so may result in fines of up to 10,000 yuan.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/china-chikungunya-outbreak-mosquito-dengue-fever-dcd1d67ce75e72118b5d5dcd3750d902