Chikungunya cases on the rise
What is chikungunya?
Chikungunya is caused by a virus that can be passed to humans by infected mosquitoes, with most cases occurring in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Symptoms include fever and joint pain, which may persist for some time.
How serious is China's outbreak?
More than 7,700 people in the southern province of Guangdong have been infected in recent weeks, according to an article by the China Association for Science and Technology.
Most cases have occurred in the industrial centre of Foshan, where 2,770 people fell ill between July 27 and Aug 2, the provincial disease control office said on Sunday.
Dozens of infections have also been detected in neighbouring Guangzhou, while Hong Kong reported its first case on Saturday.
Should people be worried?
The United States has issued a travel advisory urging increased caution when going to affected areas in China.
Some of China's prevention measures evoke its pandemic strategy, but comparisons to are overblown.
Unlike Covid, chikungunya is caused by a known pathogen, and is not transmitted via human contact and very rarely proves fatal. — AFP
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