The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention is set to issue a travel warning to China due to the rising number of chikungunya cases in the country. According to reports, nearly 5,000 cases have been recorded in China, with Guangdong province reporting almost 3,000 cases in the last week alone.
Chikungunya is spread through infected mosquito bites and can also be transmitted to unaffected areas by travelers. The virus can cause fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. In severe cases, it can lead to long-term disability.
There are currently no medicines available to treat chikungunya, and the CDC recommends that travelers take preventative measures to protect against mosquito bites. The World Health Organization has issued an urgent call for action to prevent a repeat of the 2004 chikungunya epidemic.
The WHO estimates that 5.6 billion people live in areas across 119 countries at risk of contracting the virus. Chikungunya outbreaks have become more frequent and widespread due to viral adaptations that allow the virus to spread easily.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-cdc-china-travel-warning-chikungunya-b2799479.html