by I. Edwards
Well being officers in China are reporting greater than 8,000 circumstances of chikungunya, a virus unfold by mosquitoes that may trigger fever and painful joints.
The outbreak is centered in Foshan, a metropolis within the southeastern province of Guangdong with practically 10 million individuals. Hong Kong, Macao and Hunan province—greater than 400 miles north—have additionally reported circumstances.
In response, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning for vacationers headed to China and different international locations coping with outbreaks, together with Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
Chikungunya could cause severe ache, particularly within the joints.
“[It] can go away individuals disabled for weeks, months and probably years,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious illness skilled on the College of California, San Francisco, advised The Washington Submit.
The chikungunya virus is unfold by two varieties of mosquitoes: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The virus is frequent in lots of heat areas, together with Asia, Africa and the Americas, based on the World Well being Group.
Mosquitoes turn into contaminated after they chew somebody who already has the virus, based on the CDC. They will then move the virus to others by way of new bites.
The virus might be handed by way of blood transfusions or contact with contaminated blood. It’s not unfold by coughing, sneezing or touching.
Signs normally start three to seven days after an individual is bitten by an contaminated mosquito, the CDC says. These embody fever, joint ache, complications, rash and extra.
Although chikungunya isn’t lethal, the joint ache can final for a very long time. Older adults, infants and folks with situations like hypertension, diabetes or coronary heart illness usually tend to get significantly ailing.
As of July, about 240,000 chikungunya circumstances have been reported worldwide this yr, and 90 individuals have died, based on the European Middle for Illness Prevention and Management.
There is no such thing as a particular medication to treatment chikungunya, however two vaccines at the moment are accepted within the U.S., with the primary receiving approval in 2023, The Submit mentioned.
Nevertheless, China does not have entry to these vaccines. As an alternative, well being officers there are utilizing different strategies to sluggish the outbreak, akin to utilizing drones to spray mosquito repellent and releasing fish into ponds to eat mosquito larvae. Hospitals are required to report new circumstances inside sooner or later, The Submit reported.
To forestall mosquito bites, the CDC recommends carrying lengthy sleeves and pants when outdoor, utilizing insect repellent and staying inside locations with air con or screened home windows.
Additional, vaccines are really useful for individuals touring to areas with outbreaks, particularly for folk staying for prolonged durations.
Chin-Hong added that vaccines are a significant step ahead.
“Will probably be a matter of implementing them within the locations that want it probably the most,” he advised The Submit.
Extra info:
The Cleveland Clinic has extra on the causes, signs and remedy choices for chikungunya.
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CDC warns vacationers after 8,000+ chikungunya circumstances reported in China (2025, August 8)
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