GUANGDONG – Chikungunya, a virus spread by mosquitoes, has caused a major outbreak in Guangdong province. With over 10,000 cases since July 2025, it marks the biggest surge ever recorded in China. The industrial city of Foshan has seen the highest number of people affected.
Though deaths from chikungunya are rare – only 110 reported globally so far this year, with none in Guangdong – the speed at which the virus has moved through the population has pushed local health agencies to act fast.
Authorities have ramped up efforts, making some recall the strict COVID-19 restrictions of recent years. Residents now face severe pain and disruption, as officials introduce new methods to try to contain the virus.
The Guangdong Outbreak
The first case related to this outbreak arrived in Foshan on 8 July 2025. Since then, the tally has grown quickly, reaching over 10,000 reported cases province-wide by early September, according to official figures.
Foshan has recorded more than 600 new infections daily during the peak, far higher than the 519 cases registered across mainland China from 2010 to 2019. More than a dozen cities in Guangdong, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Zhongshan, are affected.
Cases have turned up in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The first Hong Kong case, a 12-year-old boy, brought the issue across the provincial boundary after he visited Foshan.
The spike in cases has caused concern among the public and health leaders alike. Factors like high urban density, humid weather, and almost no natural immunity have allowed the virus to spread. “The outbreak spread so fast because almost everyone had zero protection from previous exposure,” said César López-Camacho from Oxford. With cases rising, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice in August, warning travellers to take extra care.
Officials have fought back with a range of tactics aimed at reducing mosquito numbers and isolating those who are ill. In Foshan, anyone who tests positive for chikungunya must stay in the hospital for at least a week or until their tests come back clear.
Patients rest in mosquito-netted beds to stop new infections. The city has added thousands of these special beds, up to 7,220, to manage the heavy flow of patients.
To tackle mosquitoes, the province relies on both tried-and-true and new techniques. Homeowners face checks for standing water in flowerpots or empty bottles. Fines of up to 10,000 yuan (over £1,000) are used to force cooperation.
Drones fly over neighbourhoods, looking for hidden pools of water. Streets and parks are sprayed with insecticide. Foshan has also put thousands of mosquito-eating fish into lakes, and even released sterile “elephant mosquitoes” whose larvae prey on those that carry disease.
Some people see similarities to the zero-COVID period, especially as measures grow stricter. One widely viewed Weibo video showed health staff entering a home in Zhanjiang at night to swab children for the virus, prompting public uproar.
Pharmacies in Foshan now must report all sales of fever and pain medicine, which reminds many of the high surveillance seen during the pandemic.
What is the Chikungunya Virus?
The Chikungunya Virus got its name from a Tanzanian word that means “to become contorted” because of the joint pain it causes. The disease is passed to humans by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which also carry dengue and Zika.
Since first being found in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya has been reported in over 110 countries, mostly in warm climates. In Guangdong, recent storms and high temperatures have created perfect breeding spots for mosquitoes.
People usually start feeling sick three to seven days after being bitten. Most develop high fever, intense joint pain, sore muscles, headache, tiredness, and a rash. The joint pain can be so bad that it can last for weeks or even months.
Sometimes, it continues for years, making daily life much harder. As a WHO expert once put it, the pain can be so strong that people struggle to move. Young children, older adults, and those with serious health problems are more at risk for severe illness. Globally, there are about 35 million cases each year, with a very low death rate of around 0.01 percent.
There is currently no drug to kill the virus. Treatment involves resting, drinking fluids, and using medications like paracetamol to ease fever and pain. Doctors avoid NSAIDs until dengue has been ruled out, as these drugs increase the chance of bleeding.
The Ongoing Difficulties
While two vaccines (IXCHIQ and VIMKUNYA) are available in some Western countries for people at higher risk, they have not yet been rolled out widely in China. This puts prevention at the centre of health advice.
Despite strong action, there are still serious challenges. Chikungunya virus spreads very easily in places with lots of mosquitoes, with each case likely to start three or four more, according to studies in Europe. Changing weather, bringing more heat and rain, helps mosquitoes thrive in new areas. While the number of new cases in Foshan may now be levelling off, experts warn the outbreak could still reach other parts of China if left unchecked.
Health officials urge everyone to take simple protection steps: wear long-sleeved clothing, use insect repellent, and fit screens or nets to windows and beds. The Chinese CDC has shared advice about both chikungunya and dengue this summer, stressing that the whole community must work together.
As Guangdong faces its biggest chikungunya challenge to date, the province’s leaders hope swift and clever responses will keep the situation under control. Balancing disease control with respect for personal privacy remains a difficult issue, as officials look for the best way forward.
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