The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel health notice warning U.S. citizens to take “enhanced precautions” when traveling to Guangdong Province, China, particularly Foshan, the epicenter of a rapidly spreading Chikungunya virus outbreak.
According to the CDC, the outbreak in Guangdong has already sickened more than 7,000 people since June.
According to the CDC:
Chikungunya disease is caused by the chikungunya virus and is spread to humans through mosquito bites. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Most people infected with chikungunya virus develop some symptoms. Symptoms of chikungunya usually begin 3–7 days after a bite by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Most people get better within a week; however, some can have severe joint pain for months to years following acute illness.
People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (65 years or older), and people with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. Death from chikungunya is rare.
There is no specific treatment for chikungunya.
According to Politico, the Chinese government has deployed drones, pesticides, home inspections, and even mosquito net‑equipped hospital isolation to contain the virus.
Citizens who fail to eliminate standing water near their homes face thousands of yuan in fines, approximately $1,400 USD, and even utility shutdowns.
Some critics have likened the measures to a disturbingly familiar “zero‑COVID” housekeeping redux—but now aimed at mosquitos.
More from Politico:
It appears to be the largest chikungunya outbreak ever documented in China, according to Cesar Lopez-Camacho of the University of Oxford. The virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and can cause fever and joint pain.
“What makes this event notable is that chikungunya has never been established in mainland China before,” Lopez-Camacho said in a statement. “This suggests that most of the population had no preexisting immunity, making it easier for the virus to spread quickly.”
Chinese state television has shown workers spraying insecticide around city streets, residential areas, construction sites and other areas where people may come into contact with mosquitoes. Workers sprayed some places before entering office buildings.
Unusually heavy rains and high temperatures have worsened the crisis in China, and authorities are using drones to try to find standing water, where mosquitoes lay eggs.
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Because of the virus, the U.S. has issued a travel advisory suggesting that Americans take extra precautions when visiting China’s Guangdong province, where Foshan is located, as well as Bolivia and some island nations in the Indian Ocean.
