Chinese officials have imposed Covid-like quarantines in parts of the country as cases of chikungunya virus continue to surge. 

In Foshan, a city in Guangdong province, over 7,000 cases of infection have been recorded. As a response, health officials have placed affected individuals in hospital wards shielded by mosquito nets.

They are required to remain there for a week — or until they test negative, if sooner. 

No deaths have yet been reported.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a Level 2 travel advisory for Guangdong Province, advising Americans to exercise increased caution while visiting the area.

Visitors are recommended to use insect repellent, wear long-sleeve clothing, and stay in accommodation that is either air-conditioned or has screens to protect against mosquito bites.

At least 12 other cities in Guangdong have reported infections, with about 3,000 cases being reported over the past week, bringing the total to over 10,000 in the country. 

Those experiencing fevers, joint pain or rashes are being asked to visit the nearest hospital so they can be tested for the virus. 

Additionally, officials had ordered travelers from Foshan to undergo a 14-day home quarantine, similar to Covid restrictions, but that has since been withdrawn.  

Hong Kong this week confirmed its first case of the virus: a 12-year-old boy developed a fever, rash and joint pain after visiting Foshan in July.

Chikungunya infections are most common in Asia, Africa and South America (Pictured: A municipal worker eradicating virus-spreading mosquitos in Asuncion, Paraguay)

Chikungunya is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes — the same species that carry dengue and Zika. It is rarely fatal but can cause debilitating symptoms.

Chikungunya infections are most common in Asia, Africa and South America, though more recently cases have also emerged across Europe and the US.

Nearly half a million people were infected during a major outbreak in 2004–2005, which spread across Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical officer with the World Health Organization, warned: ‘We are seeing history repeating itself,’ referencing the scale of the earlier epidemic.

The virus can cause fever, joint pain and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain.

Chikungunya is not spread through bodily fluids or saliva — it can only be transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.

The CDC is urging Americans to ensure they are vaccinated if they are at increased risk of exposure. In late 2023, the FDA approved a vaccine called IXCHIQ for adults aged 18 and older, and in February 2025, a second vaccine — VIMKUNYA, approved for people aged 12 and up — was licensed. 

Both vaccines are non-routine and recommended only for travelers heading to outbreak areas or for laboratory workers at risk.

Experts also advise the use of insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved clothing to guard against mosquito bites — especially during the peak summer months.

A global spike in cases began in early 2025, with major outbreaks reported in the Indian Ocean islands of La Réunion, Mayotte and Mauritius.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, around 240,000 chikungunya cases and 90 related deaths have been recorded in 16 countries so far this year, as of August 4.

 The virus has also spread to Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya and India and is making its way to Europe. 

Case counts have also been increasing in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji and Kiribati. 

The chikungunya virus is spread primarily by Aedes mosquito species (illustration pictured)

As of August 5, the CDC reports 46 cases of chikungunya infection in the US this year, all contracted by travelers returning from high-risk areas. No deaths have been reported.

While it’s unclear exactly where the infections occurred, the agency has issued an elevated risk notice for Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand — and now China.

Roughly 200 travel-related cases were reported in the US in 2024, with no fatalities recorded.

According to the CDC, chikungunya was rarely detected in American travelers before 2006. But between 2006 and 2013, the US logged around 30 imported cases a year, all in people who had recently visited affected regions in Asia, Africa or the Indian Ocean.

In 2014, a total of 2,799 cases were reported – including 12 that were locally acquired – in states and territories such as Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, making it the country’s worst year on record for the virus.

Though rarely fatal, chikungunya can cause a range of symptoms, most notably a sudden onset of fever and intense joint pain. Other common effects include muscle aches, headache, nausea, fatigue and skin rash.

The acute phase of illness typically resolves within one to two weeks, but joint pain may linger for weeks, months or even years in some cases.

In rare instances, chikungunya infections can lead to severe complications affecting the eyes, heart and nervous system. Newborns, seniors over 65, and people with underlying health issues face a higher risk of developing serious outcomes — including cardiovascular problems and, according to some studies, even Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure triggered by post-viral inflammation.

Importantly, chikungunya cannot be transmitted from person to person. Instead, the virus spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person, becomes a carrier, and then bites someone else.

Pregnant women who become infected near the time of delivery can also pass the virus to their baby during birth — which can result in severe illness in the newborn.

There is no antiviral treatment for chikungunya, but symptoms can be managed with rest, plenty of fluids, and pain relief such as acetaminophen.