Tejal Somvanshi
China is pulling out all stops to fight a major outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus that has infected over 7,000 people since June 2025. Health officials have deployed drones, released predatory fish, and threatened hefty fines in a multi-pronged approach reminiscent of COVID-era measures.
The outbreak is centered in Guangdong province, primarily in the manufacturing hub of Foshan, about 170 kilometers from Hong Kong. With cases also reported in 11 other cities, authorities are working urgently to prevent further spread.
“This appears to be the largest chikungunya outbreak ever documented in China,” according to Cesar Lopez-Camacho of the University of Oxford, who noted the virus had never been established in mainland China before, leaving most residents without immunity.
Unusually heavy monsoon rains and record high temperatures in Guangdong have created ideal breeding conditions for the Aedes mosquitoes that transmit the virus. These environmental factors, combined with the region’s dense urban population, have facilitated rapid transmission.
Chinese officials have deployed an impressive array of technologies and tactics. Drones scan Foshan’s Longcun Village to detect standing water on rooftops and other hard-to-reach areas where mosquitoes breed. Workers spray insecticide throughout city streets, residential areas, and construction sites. Authorities have also released over 5,000 larvae-eating fish into Foshan’s lakes to target mosquito breeding grounds.
The financial consequences for non-compliance are severe. Residents who fail to eliminate standing water face fines up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) and may have their electricity cut off. Officials have designated 53 hospitals as treatment centers and expanded mosquito-proof isolation beds to more than 7,220.
Patients infected with chikungunya typically experience fever, severe joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, and rash. While most people recover within a week, the disease can cause debilitating joint pain that persists for months in some cases. Those over 65, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, and newborns face higher risks of complications.
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Unlike COVID-19, chikungunya doesn’t spread between people. Nevertheless, patients in Foshan are required to stay in hospitals for at least a week, and authorities briefly enforced a two-week home quarantine before abandoning it when person-to-person transmission was ruled out.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel advisory for Americans visiting Guangdong province. Two chikungunya vaccines are now available in the United States: IXCHIQ for adults 18 and older, and VIMKUNYA, approved in February 2025 for those 12 and older. Neither vaccine is currently available in China.
Health experts warn that climate change is expanding the range of mosquito-borne diseases globally. “Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall are helping Aedes mosquitoes expand into new regions,” said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
For those traveling to affected areas, health authorities recommend using insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, wearing long clothing, staying in air-conditioned or screened accommodations, and avoiding areas with standing water.
As China continues its aggressive campaign against the outbreak, health officials report the number of new cases appears to be dropping slowly, suggesting their comprehensive approach may be working.
