Global epidemic alarm as China virus spreads to new country in record-shattering outbreak
Taiwan reported its first confirmed case of mosquito-borne chikungunya fever, the country's CDC said on Friday.
The virus was detected in a Taiwanese woman who had traveled from Foshan, the current epicenter of the outbreak in China, located in the Guangdong Province. She returned to Taiwan on July 30.
At least 12 other cities in Guangdong have reported infections, with about 3,000 cases being reported over the past week, bringing the total to over 10,000 in the country.
The US CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Guangdong Province, urging Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the region.
However, experts fear the outbreak may have already reached America.
Dr Louisa Messenger, a mosquito researcher in Nevada, told Daily Mail: 'This outbreak in China is very concerning. It [the virus] could already be here in the US; and really it's just one plane flight away.'
Chikungunya is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, the same species that carry dengue and Zika. It is rarely fatal but can cause debilitating symptoms, including fever, joint pain and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain.
Roger Hewson, virus surveillance lead at the UK's Wellcome Sanger Institute, said the current outbreak in China is the largest ever, Al Jazeera reported.
A global spike in cases began in early 2025, with major outbreaks reported in the Indian Ocean islands of La Réunion, Mayotte and Mauritius.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, around 240,000 chikungunya cases and 90 related deaths have been recorded in 16 countries so far this year, as of August 4.
The virus has also spread to Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya and India and is making its way to Europe.
Case counts have also been increasing in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji and Kiribati.
As of August 5, the US CDC reports 46 cases of chikungunya virus in the US this year, all contracted by travelers returning from high-risk areas. No deaths have been reported.
It is unclear how many of these could be linked to China's outbreak. Estimates suggest 1.6million people travel between the US and China every year, with experts saying it only takes one bite from a mosquito on one infected traveler to then pass it on throughout America.
In addition to the CDC advisory for China, the agency also issued a warning for nine other countries including Bolivia and Sri Lanka.
The US has experienced limited local transmission of the virus previously, most recently in 2014 and 2015 after cases were detected in Florida and Texas.
Infections are most common in Asia, Africa and South America, though more recently cases have also emerged across Europe and the US.
Nearly half a million people were infected during a major outbreak in 2004–2005, which spread across Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical officer with the World Health Organization, recently warned: 'We are seeing history repeating itself,' referencing the scale of the earlier epidemic.
The CDC is urging Americans to ensure they are vaccinated if they are at increased risk of exposure.
While it's unclear exactly where the infections occurred, the CDC has issued an elevated risk notice for Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and now China.
Roughly 200 travel-related cases were reported in the US in 2024, with no fatalities recorded.
According to the CDC, chikungunya was rarely detected in American travelers before 2006. But between 2006 and 2013, the US logged around 30 imported cases a year, all in people who had recently visited affected regions in Asia, Africa or the Indian Ocean.
In 2014, a total of 2,799 cases were reported - including 12 that were locally acquired - in states and territories such as Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, making it the country's worst year on record for the virus.
To protect against chikungunya, travelers are advised to wear insect repellent, cover up with long clothing, and stay in air-conditioned or screened accommodation to avoid mosquito bites.
Those experiencing fevers, joint pain or rashes should visit a hospital so they can be tested for the virus.
To combat the spread of the virus in China, Chinese officials had ordered travelers from Foshan to undergo a 14-day home quarantine, similar to Covid restrictions, but that has since been withdrawn.
Infected patients are being isolated in hospital wards and covered with mosquito nets. They are required to remain there for a week or until they test negative, if sooner.
Images show Chinese state workers spraying clouds of disinfectant around city streets, residential areas and construction sites where people may come into contact with virus-bearing mosquitoes in or near standing water.
Drones are being used to hunt down insect breeding grounds and spray insecticide, and residents are being asked to empty bottles, flower pots or other outdoor receptacles that may collect water.
Failure to comply with any restriction may lead to fines of up to $1,400 (10,000 Yuan) and locals can have their electricity cut off, according to state media.
The acute phase of illness typically resolves within one to two weeks, but joint pain may linger for weeks, months or even years in some cases.
Newborns, seniors over 65, and people with underlying health issues face a higher risk of developing serious outcomes, including cardiovascular problems and, according to some studies, even Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure triggered by post-viral inflammation.
Importantly, chikungunya cannot be transmitted from person to person. Instead, the virus spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person, becomes a carrier, and then bites someone else.
Pregnant women who become infected near the time of delivery can also pass the virus to their baby during birth, which can result in severe illness in the newborn.
There is no antiviral treatment for chikungunya, but symptoms can be managed with rest, plenty of fluids, and pain relief such as acetaminophen.
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