Chikungunya is breaking out in China.
Photo Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases via Unsplash
Last month, the World Health Organisation issued an urgent warning against the most recent outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus. Now, authorities in China are scrambling to control the outbreak of the disease, as they have seen nearly 8,000 cases pop up in less than a month. But what can we do to stymie the outbreak before it becomes a full-blown pandemic? And what does it mean for Europe, where cases are slowly but surely increasing?
Chikungunya, a virus spread through the bites of an infected mosquito, is a disease that can cause severe joint pain, fever, and other symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, nausea, and even a rash. Though most symptoms are short-lived, the joint pain and some other symptoms could last up to a couple of years after infection. The World Health Organisation, or WHO, released a warning about it in July, seeing eerily similar patterns to the last outbreak of the virus. Indeed, in 2025, a total of 240,000 cases and 90 deaths have been reported in 16 countries and territories (through North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe) last month.
The warning, however, may have been too little, too late for Chinese residents, as the country has seen thousands of cases in the last 30 days. Authorities are yet unsure what exactly caused the outbreak, but it’s suspected that recent rainy weather and high humidity has made the area a perfect breeding ground for infected mosquitoes.
Chinese authorities push back against another “pandemic”
The Chinese government has already taken firm measures to try to combat the spread of the virus, particularly in the Guangdong province where it’s been most prevalent. Reportedly, insecticide is being sprayed in the street, and those who are infected are being immediately admitted to the hospital in a quarantine of sorts, mirroring the strict measures the Chinese authorities took during the spread of the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020. Travel notices have also been issued for anyone with trips to China.
Moreover, the government is taking other measures to ensure the mosquitoes take a hit: they’ve ordered citizens to remove all stagnant water from their homes, with the threat of a fine if they do not do so. Giant “elephant mosquitoes,” which eat the smaller disease-spreading mosquitoes, as well as mosquito-eating fish, have been released in the province in hopes of controlling the infected population of insects.
Notwithstanding, according to Chinese officials, the grand majority of the cases have been mild so far, and most people (95 per cent of infected patients) are being discharged from the hospital within a week. The warm weather also doesn’t help, as it encourages mosquito populations, but with the arrival of colder weather later this year, the outbreak should be mitigated as well.
What can we do to stop the spread of the virus?
Luckily, regular mosquito repellant measures are effective against the spread of chikungunya and other mosquito-borne viruses. For one, wearing long-sleeved clothing, wearing spray-on mosquito repellant, and getting rid of stagnant water in your home, like they are doing in China, is an effective way to protect yourself against the spread of the disease. Moreover, plug-in mosquito repellant gadgets have also proved useful against the pests. Those more at risk, namely young children, the elderly, those who tend to get bitten a lot by mosquitoes, and those with weakened immune systems, should take extra precautions against this virus. Looking out for new updates from either local authorities or the WHO could also help to keep informed of the spread of the disease.
With any luck, the public’s awareness of the disease can help those at risk to take action against the virus, and mitigate the spread of it before it reaches more places.
