More than 8,000 cases of a mosquito-borne virus have been reported in China, leading authorities to take preventative steps similar to those implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The outbreak of chikungunya has focused largely on Foshan, a city of 10 million in China’s southern Guangdong province, near Hong Kong.
The disease causes fever and joint pain, with the young, older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions most at risk.
Chinese health officials have adopted a series of measures to contain the spread, threatening fines for people who fail to disperse standing water and even deploying drones to hunt down insect breeding grounds.
Chikungunya is a disease caused by a virus of the same name, first identified in Tanzania in 1952.
It is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, causing people to develop symptoms within three to seven days. It cannot spread between people.
Along with fever and joint pains, symptoms can include rashes, headaches, muscle pains and swollen joints.
Chikungunya is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes (Photo: James Gathany/CDC via AP)The young, elderly and people with underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, are most at risk of developing severe symptoms.
There are no cures or treatments, and for some, symptoms can last for years. However, the majority of people recover without needing medical attention, after one to two weeks. Deaths are rare.
How widespread is the outbreak?
Cases of chikungunya have been rising in China since July, when an “imported case triggered local transmission”, according to health officials.
The outbreak has centred on Foshan, but infections – nearly 3,000 in the last week alone – have been reported in at least 12 cities in Guangdong.
Hong Kong confirmed its first case on Monday – a 12-year-old boy who developed symptoms after visiting Foshan.
Heavy rains and high temperatures have worsened the spread of the disease, which is generally common in tropical areas.
Residents wade through debris along a flood-hit street after waters from a river overwhelmed towns in Huaiji County, Guangdong (Photo: Deng Hua/Xinhua via AP)According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the current spread of chikungunya began in early 2025, with major outbreaks in Indian Ocean islands.
In La Réunion, more than 47,500 cases of chikungunya and 12 associated deaths were reported up to May.
The virus spread to other countries, including Somalia, Kenya and India, as well as Europe, with 800 imported cases reported in France.
Cases and outbreaks have now been reported in more than 100 countries.
Chinese health officials have pledged to take “decisive and forceful measures” to contain the spread of the disease.
State television has shown workers spraying clouds of disinfectant around city streets, residential areas and construction sites in Foshan.
Sources of standing water, which attracts mosquitoes, have been targeted. People who fail to empty bottles, flower pots or other outdoor receptacles can receive fines of up to 10,000 yuan (£1,000) and have their electricity cut off.
A drone sprays insecticide in Guangzhou (Photo: Chen Chuhong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)Drones have been deployed to locate and spray mosquito breeding grounds with insecticide. Scientists are also releasing large “elephant mosquitoes”, whose larvae eat the smaller insects that spread the virus.
In Foshan, anyone infected with chikungunya is required to stay in hospital, where their beds are protected with mosquito nets.
They can only be discharged after testing negative or at the end of a week-long stay.
The US has advised citizens not to visit Guangdong, along with countries including Bolivia and Indian Ocean island nations.
What is the risk to the UK?
Chikungunya poses little risk to the UK because the Aedes mosquito is not present in the country. The temperature is not consistently high enough for it to breed, although the mosquitoes are found in parts of southern Europe.
If a person contracts chikungunya abroad and becomes ill on their return to the UK, they cannot pass the infection onto anyone else.
In recent years, a small number of cases have been reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland annually, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
British citizens travelling to infected areas risk being bitten by an infected mosquito.
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