What is chikungunya, the virus now spreading in China?
Chinese authorities have taken steps this week to try to curb the spread of chikungunya, a virus that often causes fever and joint pain. The government reported that as of Wednesday, August 6, more than 7,000 cases had been recorded, mainly in Foshan, a manufacturing center in the south of the country.
Here's what you should know about chikungunya:
Chikungunya is a disease caused by a virus of the same name.
The chikungunya virus was first identified in infected people during an outbreak in Tanzania in 1952. Its name is derived from a Makonde word meaning "that which bends," due to the severe pain it can cause.
Chikungunya is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and usually causes mild symptoms. Most people who contract it recover without medical attention after one to two weeks.
Chikungunya typically produces symptoms including fever, muscle pain, nausea, fatigue, and rash.
But in rare cases, it can cause debilitating joint pain that persists for months or even years. Patients who become severely ill often require hospitalization due to the risk of organ damage.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says severe cases and deaths are rare and occur mostly in infants or older people with underlying health conditions.
There is no specific treatment for chikungunya, but health workers can treat symptoms by administering medications to reduce fever or relieve muscle pain.
Two vaccines have been approved in several regions, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, and Europe. They are primarily intended for travelers and are not widely distributed in the countries most affected by chikungunya.
Chikungunya causes regular outbreaks in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Occasionally, there are small epidemics in Europe.
As of July, there have been about 240,000 cases of chikungunya, including 90 deaths in 16 countries, According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the countries reporting the highest number of infections were Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru.
With thousands of confirmed cases, this appears to be the largest documented outbreak of chikungunya in China , according to César López-Camacho of Oxford University.
"What makes this event remarkable is that chikungunya has never previously taken root in mainland China," he said in a statement. "This suggests that the majority of the population had no pre-existing immunity, making it easier for the virus to spread rapidly."
In response to the outbreak in Foshan, near Hong Kong, Chinese authorities have begun taking measures such as distributing mosquito nets and having workers spray insecticide in residential areas, streets, and construction sites.
People who do not empty bottles, flower pots, or other containers outdoors, where water can accumulate and allow mosquitoes to breed, can be fined up to 10,000 yuan (1,400 USD) and have their electricity cut off.
This year's unusually heavy rains and high temperatures have worsened the crisis in China.
Yes. The number of outbreaks has increased since 2000, as have other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika , according to Robert Jones, an assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
In a statement, Jones indicated that chikungunya was first observed on the island of Saint Martin in 2013, and over the next three years, cases were confirmed in nearly 50 countries in the Caribbean and the Americas, with more than one million suspected cases.
Jones noted that the risks of chikungunya outbreaks have increased due to climate change and urban expansion, and warned that the current outbreak could spread to other parts of southern China with humid climates and densely populated cities.
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