China is waging an all-out battle against chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease that has infected around 8,000 people in four weeks. The southern city of Foshan is under siege as officials deploy soldiers wearing masks to fog parks and streets with insecticide, while drones scan for mosquito breeding sites.
To combat the outbreak, authorities have introduced giant “elephant mosquitoes” whose larvae prey on chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes. Thousands of fish that eat mosquitoes have also been released into city ponds.
Residents are being inspected at their homes and ordered to dump any stagnant water, with those who refuse facing fines or even criminal charges. At least five households have already had their electricity cut off for non-cooperation.
Experts say the outbreak is linked to rising global temperatures, which have led to warmer and wetter weather in China. This has allowed mosquitoes to thrive, making the virus spread rapidly across the city. The campaign is reminiscent of the government’s response during the Covid pandemic, but its effectiveness remains to be seen.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/world/asia/china-chikungunya-virus-mosquitoes-covid.html