United States well being officers are urging travellers to stay vigilant as a mosquito-borne virus continues to flow into throughout elements of Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Indian Ocean.
For the reason that starting of 2025, there have been roughly 240,000 chikungunya virus infections and 90 deaths in 16 international locations, in response to the European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC).
In China, an outbreak has contaminated roughly 7,000 individuals since late June, with most circumstances concentrated within the metropolis of Foshan, in Guangdong province, simply north of Hong Kong. This marks the nation’s largest chikungunya outbreak because the virus was first recognized there in 2008.
Here’s what we all know concerning the illness and the way it’s spreading.
What’s the chikungunya virus?
Chikungunya is a viral illness that’s unfold by means of the chew of contaminated Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes additionally carry and unfold dengue, yellow fever and the Zika virus.
The identify, chikungunya, derives from a phrase within the Kimakonde language, spoken in Tanzania and Mozambique, which means “to change into contorted”.
Typically, sufferers will really feel higher inside per week. In lots of circumstances, nevertheless, the joint ache can final for months and even years.
There isn’t any remedy for the chikungunya virus, however deaths are uncommon. If an contaminated mosquito bites a wholesome human, it injects the virus into the bloodstream.
Individuals most vulnerable to critical sickness from chikungunya embrace newborns, older adults and people with present well being issues resembling coronary heart illness or diabetes.
There isn’t any remedy for the chikungunya virus, however the loss of life fee is low, besides in high-risk populations.
If an contaminated mosquito bites a wholesome human, it injects the virus into the bloodstream. If a non-infected mosquito bites an individual who’s already contaminated, it sucks the virus from that particular person’s blood and turns into a provider able to transmitting the virus to others by means of bites.
How unhealthy is the present unfold of the virus?
In accordance with the World Well being Group (WHO), the present surge in circumstances started in early 2025, with main outbreaks in Indian Ocean Islands, together with La Reunion, Mayotte and Mauritius.
In La Reunion, greater than 47,500 circumstances of chikungunya and 12 related deaths have been reported as much as Might 2025, with sustained excessive transmission throughout the island, in response to the WHO. The ECDC additionally reviews that as of July 18, there have been greater than 54,000 circumstances reported from La Reunion.
That is now essentially the most critical chikungunya outbreak in La Reunion because the 2005–2006 epidemic, which noticed an estimated 244,000 to greater than 300,000 circumstances, and prompted large-scale public well being efforts to regulate mosquito breeding and restrict transmission.
The virus has additionally unfold to different international locations, together with Madagascar, Somalia and Kenya, and has proven indicators of epidemic-level transmission in elements of Southeast Asia, in addition to India, the place monetary capital Mumbai has seen a surge in circumstances since July.
The WHO has additionally raised considerations concerning the rising variety of imported chikungunya circumstances in Europe. Since Might 1, about 800 imported circumstances have been reported in mainland France.
In accordance with the ECDC, the Americas as a area have reported the best variety of chikungunya circumstances globally. As of mid-July 2025, the international locations with essentially the most circumstances within the area embrace Brazil (185,553), Bolivia (4,721), Argentina (2,836) and Peru (55).
In China, infections have been reported in at the least 12 cities throughout southern Guangdong province, along with Foshan.
Chinese language authorities stated that an “imported case triggered native transmission” in July, however didn’t specify the place the an infection originated. In accordance with specialists, rising world temperatures have led to hotter and wetter climate, permitting mosquitoes to thrive.
Individually, on Saturday, Hong Kong confirmed its first case of chikungunya: a 12-year-old boy who developed a fever, rash and joint ache since July 31, after visiting Foshan. This was the territory’s first case of the virus in six years.
How are China and different international locations preventing the unfold?
In accordance with a Bloomberg information report, China has promised to take swift and decisive motion to include the unfold of the chikungunya virus.
Drones are getting used to seek out locations the place mosquitoes are breeding. On the identical time, scientists are releasing massive “elephant mosquitoes” – about 2cm (0.8 inches) lengthy – whose larvae eat the smaller mosquitoes that unfold the virus. Well being specialists hope these mosquito helpers will play an essential function in stopping the outbreak.
In accordance with a report by the BBC, residents of affected areas in China have been ordered to get rid of standing water in and round their properties – together with in flowerpots, espresso machines and empty bottles. Noncompliance could end in fines of as much as 10,000 yuan (roughly $1,400), and in additional critical circumstances, individuals may face prison costs for “obstructing the prevention of infectious illnesses”.
Citing native sources, The New York Occasions stated that in some situations, contaminated residents in Foshan are being moved to “quarantine wards”, the place they’re saved behind mosquito nets and screens. Some sufferers additionally say they got no selection however to hunt remedy at their very own expense.
Somewhere else, resembling La Reunion and Mayotte, authorities have additionally launched enhanced surveillance, mosquito management initiatives and focused vaccination efforts.
The Basque Nation in Spain activated preventive protocols after a case was detected in Hendaye, simply throughout the border in France. The protocols embrace elevated surveillance in border cities and inspiring individuals to make reviews by means of apps resembling Mosquito Alert.
How can chikungunya be prevented and handled?
Well being authorities advise defending oneself towards mosquito bites as the best technique towards the unfold of chikungunya.
This will likely contain sporting lengthy sleeves and trousers, making use of mosquito repellents, eradicating our bodies of standing water the place mosquitoes can breed, and staying in closed, air-conditioned areas indoors or behind mosquito netting when open air.
Whereas there aren’t any particular medicines to deal with the virus, relaxation, fluids and ache relievers could assist alleviate signs, in response to the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).
Nevertheless, some ache relievers could also be unsafe throughout a suspected an infection. The CDC recommends avoiding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) till dengue is dominated out, as they’ll increase the chance of bleeding.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are examined on the entomology division of the Well being Ministry, in Guatemala Metropolis, Guatemala, in 2024 (File: Josue Decavele/Reuters)
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