Holiday hotspots report cases of organ destroying virus sparking global outbreak fears in China

The Sun

a day ago

SOME favourite holiday destinations for Brits are now hotspots for a crippling mosquito-borne virus, new figures reveal.
Chikungunya, which is rarely deadly but capable of wreaking havoc on organs and causing agonising, months-long pain and disability, is exploding worldwide.
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Just last month The World Health Organisation warned chikungunya could soon affect billions across the globe as it tears through parts of the Indian Ocean and edges closer to Europe.
The health watchdog said it was seeing the same warning signs as in the last major outbreak two decades ago, when nearly half a million were infected worldwide.
More than 7,000 people have been struck down by the mosquito-borne bug in China alone, marking the country's biggest ever outbreak of the disease, according to experts.
Most cases have been reported in the city of Foshan, in the southern province of Guangdong.
In recent days, cases have cropped up in neighbouring areas and countries, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, according to media reports, this is despite China imposing Covid-like measures to contain the virus.
Since early 2025, this viral wave has crossed continents, with 250,000 cases and 90 deaths recorded across 16 countries this year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
And while the UK remains free of risk for now, parts of France and Italy - both very popular with Brits, are already battling the virus.
There have been 12 local transmission episodes in several regions of southern France within the last year - meaning people were infected by mosquitoes in Europe, not while travelling.
While this sounds concerning, experts have fortunately said it isn't going to be the next pandemic.
Professor Will Irving, a virology expert at the University of Nottingham said: "There have been equally large, if not larger outbreaks around the world prior to this one."
What is Chikungunya
However, he added: "With climate change, the mosquitos are spreading, and there are reports of the mosquito being present in parts of Europe (France, Italy, Spain).'
Last year, Europe saw a sharp surge in mosquito-borne diseases - including dengue, West Nile, and malaria - with some infections doubling in just 12 months.
Chikungunya is primarily spread by the Aedes mosquito (also known as the tiger mosquito) and cannot spread from person to person.
But a mosquito can pick up the disease by feeding on an infected individual and then transmit it to new human hosts by biting them.
Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitoes, these critters are most active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
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How to stay safe
Several experts have shared precautionary steps those travelling the sunny beaches of Europe can take to prevent infection.
Professor Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, advised travellers to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs.
Ideally, he said: "They will be light coloured, so you can see if mosquitos have landed on you."
In particular, he warned that it is a bad idea for women in late stages of pregnancy to travel to these destinations.
"If you get infected with it later on in the pregnancy, it can pose a risk to the baby," he said.
Two chikungunya vaccines have recently been approved for use in the UK - although one is under safety review for older people.
Those are mostly targeted at travellers and are not widely available in the countries most affected by chikungunya.
Once someone has recovered from chikungunya, there is evidence to suggest they have lifelong immunity.
In 2024, there were 112 confirmed and probable cases of chikungunya, all linked to people returning from popular destinations like India, Pakistan and Brazil.
Once mostly confined to Asia, Africa, and South America, the virus is now expanding its reach across Europe and the US, with local outbreaks on the rise.
It has surged in places like Madagascar, the Seychelles, Somalia, Kenya, India, and Brazil.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Islands are also grappling with rising outbreaks in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji, and Kiribati.
The US has recorded 46 cases this year, all in travellers returning from high-risk regions, with no deaths reported so far.
Crippling joint pain
While chikungunya very rarely causes death, its symptoms are debilitating.
They usually begin within a week of being bitten and can include a sudden high fever, fatigue, nausea, reddening of the eyes, sensitivity to light and a rash.
The virus gets its name from a word in the Kimakonde language spoken in southern Tanzania meaning 'to become contorted,' to the crippling joint pain it causes.
The virus triggers an immune response that leads to inflammation in the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness similar to rheumatoid arthritis that can persist for weeks, months and sometimes years after the initial infection.
Those most at risk of severe illness include newborn babies, older adults, and people with underlying conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
How concerning is this outbreak?
Though tactics adopted by authorities in China hark back to lockdown measures five years ago, chikungunya "does not pose the same level of pandemic threat as a virus like Covid-19", according to Prof Tom Solomon, director of The Pandemic Institute in Liverpool.
Dr César López-Camacho, from the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, added: 'It is extremely unlikely to cause a pandemic in the traditional sense, as chikungunya does not spread from person to person.
"However, it can cause large regional outbreaks, especially when introduced to mosquito-rich, low-immunity settings, like what we are probably seeing in China."
The risk to the UK from this outbreak is "currently low" as Aedes mosquitoes, which tend to carry the virus, aren't widespread here.
"But we do need to watch closely, as climate change and global travel are expanding the range of these mosquitoes, and with it, the viruses they carry," Dr López-Camacho warned.
'It is also important that genetic sequencing of the virus in this outbreak is carried out.
"In past outbreaks, mutations have helped chikungunya adapt to new mosquito species.
"If the virus has changed, we need to ensure current vaccines still offer protection."
Brits travelling to China amidst the outbreak should "be cautious", the disease expert said.
He continued: "The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 2 travel alert, recommending travellers use insect repellent, wear long sleeves, and stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation.
"Travellers returning from affected areas who develop fever and joint pain should seek medical attention and mention their recent travel."
People travelling to high-risk areas where outbreaks of the virus often occur can get vaccinated against chikungunya at a travel clinic.
But Prof Solomon noted: "There have been reports of serious side effects in people over the age of 65.
"As such, the vaccine is currently recommended for travellers under 65 visiting high-risk areas."