Across China’s Guangdong province since July, over 7,000 cases of a mosquito-borne virus have been reported, forcing measures synonymous to those taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the city of Foshan, which has been struck the hardest, chikungunya patients must stay in hospital, where their beds will be shielded with mosquito nets. They can only be discharged after their test come out negative or at the end of a week-long stay.
The virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, and it causes fever and severe joint pain, which sometimes can linger for years.
Although chikungunya virus is not common in China, however, outbreaks are common in South and South East Asia and parts of Africa.
At least 12 other cities in the southern Guangdong province, apart from Foshan, have reported infections. Almost 3,000 cases were reported in the last seven (7) days alone.
The virus is not contagious, and only spreads when an infected person is bitten by a mosquito that then travels on to bite others.
Officials have disclosed, so far, all the reported cases have been mild, with 95% of the patients discharged within seven (7) days.
Following the outbreak of the virus, the United States (US) has urged travellers to China to exercise “increased caution”.
