What is chikungunya? Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes, known for their aggressive daytime biting behavior, also spread other illnesses like dengue and Zika.
The disease is characterized by sudden high fever, intense joint pain, rash, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue. While deaths are rare, the joint pain can become chronic, lasting for weeks or even months, especially in older adults or those with underlying health conditions. Newborns and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
The transmission cycle involves mosquitoes biting infected individuals, then spreading the virus by biting others — creating a vicious human–mosquito–human loop that drives outbreaks.
Global spread and impact
A significant surge in chikungunya cases began in early 2025, particularly in island territories in the Indian Ocean — including Réunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius. In Réunion alone, health authorities recorded over 54,000 cases by August, including 12 fatalities. This marks the worst outbreak there since 2005–2006, when an estimated 300,000 people were infected.
Elsewhere, the virus has been actively circulating in parts of East Africa (including Kenya and Somalia), South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Mumbai recently reported a worrying rise in cases. In South America, Brazil leads with over 185,000 cases reported by July, while Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru have also documented smaller but notable outbreaks.
Europe has not been spared — particularly France, which has seen about 800 imported cases since May 1, mostly from travelers returning from Réunion and other endemic regions.
China’s worst outbreak on record
China is grappling with its most serious chikungunya outbreak to date, concentrated in Guangdong Province, particularly in the city of Foshan. What started as an imported case quickly escalated, with at least 12 cities reporting local transmissions.
In one week, the number of cases in Foshan alone surged from 478 to nearly 3,000, and the total across the province has crossed 8,000. All reported cases have so far been mild, with no fatalities.
Health officials have been quick to respond with a combination of traditional and modern public health tools.
How is China responding?
Chinese authorities have implemented a wide-ranging emergency response involving:
- Biological control: Releasing Toxorhynchites splendens mosquitoes, whose larvae prey on Aedes mosquito larvae, and stocking fish in ponds and drainage systems to eat mosquito eggs and larvae.
- Chemical control: Conducting large-scale spraying of larvicides and insecticides in residential and public spaces, including apartment complexes and rural areas.
- Physical control: Launching a week-long mosquito eradication campaign using drones, door-to-door inspections, and elimination of standing water. Violators faced fines or even disconnection of water and power services.
- Medical interventions: Rapid isolation of confirmed patients under mosquito nets to prevent further spread, and provision of hospital care for symptomatic individuals.
- Central coordination: China’s Vice Premier chaired an emergency meeting, calling for tighter border screening, enhanced surveillance, and sustained community-level engagement.
Why is it spreading so rapidly?
The current explosion of cases is attributed to unusually heavy monsoon rains, particularly in southern China. These rains, among the heaviest in over a century, caused widespread flooding and landslides, creating vast breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Additionally, climate change is believed to be expanding the geographical range and breeding seasons of disease-carrying mosquitoes, making outbreaks more frequent in both tropical and temperate regions.
Are there treatments or vaccines?
There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya. Care is supportive — resting, taking fever reducers like paracetamol, and drinking plenty of fluids. Most people recover within a week, though joint pain can linger.
Two vaccines have been licensed in the U.S. and Europe:
- Ixchiq – a live-attenuated vaccine
- Vimkunya – a virus-like particle vaccine
However, these are not yet widely available, and China has not approved either for use. They are also currently restricted in some regions for people over 60 due to ongoing safety reviews.
How to protect yourself
- Wear long-sleeved clothing and use insect repellents with DEET or picaridin.
- Sleep under mosquito nets or in air-conditioned rooms.
- Empty stagnant water in and around your home, including flower pots, buckets, and clogged drains.
- Avoid outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours, particularly early morning and late afternoon.
Conclusion
The chikungunya outbreak in China is a stark reminder of how environmental factors, global travel, and climate change can converge to fuel the resurgence of old diseases. As health authorities race to contain the spread, the rest of the world watches closely — both for lessons and warnings.
China’s aggressive response could prove a model for outbreak containment. But longer-term solutions may lie in greater international coordination, accelerated vaccine distribution, and more climate-resilient public health systems.
— Story adapted and rewritten from original reporting by Al‑Jazeera News
