Since July, 7,000 cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been reported in Guangdong province in China, prompting the use of methods that were in place during the coronavirus pandemic, the BBC reports.
Foshan has been the worst hit, and patients with Chikungunya fever must stay in hospitals, where their beds are protected by mosquito nets. They can go home when tests no longer show Chikungunya fever, or after seven days.
The virus is spread by mosquitoes and causes fever and severe joint pain that can sometimes last for years. Although the virus is relatively rare in China, outbreaks of Chikungunya fever are common in South and Southeast Asia, as well as Africa.
In addition to Foshan, the virus has been detected in at least 12 other cities in Guangdong province, with 3,000 new cases reported in the past week alone. Hong Kong reported its first case on August 4. A 12-year-old boy there contracted the virus after visiting Foshan in July.
Chikungunya fever is not contagious and is only spread when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites a healthy person.
Officials say cases so far have been mild, with 95% of patients discharged after a few days. Despite this, the relatively high number of cases has caused some panic, as the virus is little known in China. The United States has urged travelers to China to be extra careful.
Guangdong officials have vowed to act decisively and use strong methods to stop the spread of the virus. People with symptoms including fever, joint pain or a rash are urged to go to the nearest hospital for testing. Authorities have ordered people to ensure that there is no standing water in their homes, such as in flower pots, and have warned that fines may be imposed if they do not comply.
5,000 fish that eat mosquito larvae have been released into lakes in Foshan, and drones are being used in parts of the city to find standing water where mosquitoes that carry Chikungunya fever could breed.
People bitten by an infected mosquito will experience the first symptoms of Chikungunya fever after three to seven days. In addition to fever and joint pain, those infected may also experience a rash, headache, muscle pain and swollen joints. Most symptoms resolve within a week. There is no specific treatment for the virus, but deaths are extremely rare.
Chikungunya fever was first identified in Tanzania in 1952 and is now present in 110 countries around the world. According to the World Health Organization, the easiest way to avoid outbreaks of the virus is to reduce areas with standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
Read also: Poland’s new President: football hooligan past and shady real estate deals