Everything to know about chikungunya virus as China reacts to outbreak with 'forceful pandemic measures'
The human race just can't seem to catch a break, and when we're not dealing with threats of World War III, worries about whether AI has malicious intentions, and concerns about hostile aliens, we've also got Mother Nature herself trying to wipe us off the face of the Earth.
With mankind still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's true that it's not technically over. Some 858 deaths were recorded in July 2025, and while this is thankfully a substantial drop from the peak of the pandemic, it's not something to be ignored.
If not facing up to the idea that we could bring some intergalactic pandemic back from Mars, there's also the recent discovery of 20 new bat viruses in China.
Now, scientists are warning about another potential pandemic in the form of China's chikungunya virus.
What is the chikungunya virus?
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There are multiple reports of the chikungunya virus affecting 13 cities across China's Guangdong area. The city of Foshan, that's located northwest of Hong Kong, appears to be the epicenter of the outbreak that's largely transmitted by mosquitoes.
The BBC confirms that there have already been 7,000 cases reported, with those who test positive being told to remain in hospital and in a bed that's covered by a mosquito net. They can only be discharged when they test negative or following a week-long stay.
Even though chikungunya outbreaks are a regular occurrence in South and South East Asia, as well as parts of Africa, it's rare that we have an outbreak like this in China.
What are the symptoms of the chikungunya virus?
With 3,000 cases reported in the past week alone, the chikungunya outbreak is one to watch. Those who are bitten by infected mosquitoes tend to suffer from flu-like symptoms that include a fever and severe joint pain. Most worringly, some of these symptoms can last for years.
Hong Kong reported its first case on August 4, reporting that a 12-year-old boy had developed a fever, rash, and joint pain after a July visit to Foshan. While the chikungunya virus isn't contagious and can only be spread when an infected person is bitten by a mosquito that then bites others, it has the potential to grow if not contained.
All cases reported so far have been relatively mild, with 95% of patients being discharged within a week.
What has the World Health Organization said about the chikungunya virus?
The World Health Organization has thankfully been keeping an eye on the chikungunya virus. In July 2025, the WHO released guidelines on how to deal with arboviral diseases. Typically spread by Aedes mosquitoes, the WHO warned that some 5.6 billion people worldwide are at risk of being infected with arboviral diseases.
Naming dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever as the four most prevalent arboviral diseases, it added: "An integrated approach is vital, as these four diseases often present with similar symptoms, especially in the early stages of infection, and multiple arboviruses may circulate simultaneously in certain regions.
"This makes clinical differentiation challenging, particularly where diagnostic testing is not readily available."
The US has urged travellers to China to exercise "increased caution" following the outbreak, while authorities in the Guangdong province have said they will take "decisive and forceful measures" to stop the chikungunya virus from spreading.
Residents have been told to remove stagnant water from coffee machines, spare bottles, and flowerpots. Those who don't comply could be charged up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400).
In hopes of curbing an outbreak, they've released giant 'elephant mosquitoes' that can eat the ones that spread chikungunya. There's also been a release of larvae-eating fish and even drones to detect stagnant water.