More than 7,000 cases of a mosquito-borne virus have been reported across China’s Guangdong province since July, prompting measures similar to those taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Foshan city, which has been hit the hardest, chikungunya patients must stay in hospital, where their beds will protected with mosquito nets. They can only be discharged after they test negative or at the end of a week-long stay.
Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, the virus causes fever and severe joint pain, which sometimes can last for years.
Although rare in China, chikungunya outbreaks are common in South and South East Asia and parts of Africa.
Aside from Foshan, at least 12 other cities in the southern Guangdong province have reported infections. Nearly 3,000 cases were reported in the last week alone.
On Monday, Hong Kong reported its first case – a 12-year-old boy who developed fever, rash and joint pain after traveling to Foshan in July.
BREAKING:
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) August 5, 2025
China is facing an outbreak of the chikungunya virus, which spreads by mosquito bites, with 7,000 cases reported. pic.twitter.com/72wR0dAy5W
