China reports 7,000 cases of chikungunya virus

China is currently facing an outbreak of the chikungunya virus, with over 7,000 cases reported in Guangdong province since July. Chikungunya is a disease spread by mosquitoes, and it causes symptoms like fever and severe joint pain, which can sometimes last for months or even years. The authorities in Guangdong are taking strong actions to control the spread of the virus, using some of the same strategies that were used during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Foshan, the city with the most cases, patients who have chikungunya are required to stay in the hospital. Their beds are covered with mosquito nets to prevent more mosquito bites, and they can only leave the hospital after they test negative for the virus or after a week has passed.

The virus is not new to the world, but it is rare in China. Chikungunya is more common in South and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Africa. In Guangdong, at least 12 cities have reported cases, and nearly 3,000 new cases were reported in just one week. Hong Kong also reported its first case, a 12-year-old boy who became sick after visiting Foshan. The virus does not spread directly from person to person. Instead, it spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites someone else. Most of the cases in China have been mild, and 95% of patients have recovered and left the hospital within seven days. However, the outbreak has caused some panic, as many people in China are not familiar with the disease.

To stop the spread of chikungunya, the government is urging people to remove any standing water from their homes, such as water in flowerpots, coffee machines, or bottles, because mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. People who do not follow these instructions can be fined up to 10,000 yuan, which is about $1,400. The authorities are also releasing large mosquitoes that eat the smaller, dangerous mosquitoes, and they are putting mosquito-eating fish into lakes. In some areas, drones are being used to find places where water has collected. Some cities had required travelers from Foshan to stay at home for 14 days, but this rule has now been removed. Some people are questioning whether these strict measures are really necessary, especially since the virus does not spread from person to person. Chikungunya was first discovered in Tanzania in 1952 and has since spread to more than 110 countries. The best way to prevent the virus is to stop mosquitoes from breeding by getting rid of standing water. There is no cure for chikungunya, but deaths are very rare. Most people recover within a week, but some may have joint pain for a long time, especially newborns, the elderly, and people with other health problems.