Guangdong province is grappling with a significant outbreak of a mosquito-borne virus, resulting in thousands of reported infections.
Officials in China’s southern Guangdong Province have reintroduced Covid-era lockdown and containment measures to manage a substantial outbreak of the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus, which has already sickened thousands.
The epicenter of the outbreak is Foshan, a city situated 170km north of Hong Kong, where over half of the almost 8,000 documented cases have been identified.
The virus commonly triggers sudden fever, rash, and intense joint pain, which can be debilitating and occasionally persistent. Although rarely lethal, its symptoms can considerably diminish a person’s quality of life. In contrast to Covid-19, which emerged in 2019 and resulted in over 7 million global fatalities according to the World Health Organization, Chikungunya does not spread directly from person to person.
Infected individuals are being isolated in dedicated isolation wards or hospitals, according to local authorities. They are mandated to stay in beds shielded by mosquito nets to prevent mosquitoes from biting patients and consequently disseminating the virus.
The local authorities have initiated a robust anti-mosquito campaign, instructing residents to eliminate all sources of stagnant water within and surrounding their residences. Community workers are performing door-to-door inspections, and those discovered in non-compliance risk fines of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) or even criminal charges for impeding public health endeavors.
According to Bloomberg, China is reintroducing Covid-era health restrictions due to a Chikungunya surge.
— Candidat (@candidatnews_fr)
Images and videos circulating on social media depict deserted, mist-laden streets, as insecticide spraying is carried out to manage mosquito populations. Drones have been utilized to pinpoint potential breeding grounds, and officials have released elephant mosquitoes – a benign species whose larvae consume virus-carrying mosquitoes – into the local environment.
Furthermore, thousands of larvivorous fish have been introduced into ponds and standing water bodies throughout the city. Guangdong has also instated a real-name registration system for the acquisition of any medications associated with the virus’s symptoms, aiming to more effectively monitor and manage cases. Chikungunya was initially discovered in Tanzania in the 1950s and has subsequently triggered outbreaks across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.