Chikungunya battle requires long-term vigilance, say experts

Global surge

Chikungunya fever, common in tropical and subtropical regions, was relatively unknown in China until the recent outbreak in South China.

The nation first identified imported infections in 2008 and registered four incidents of the virus's local spread from 2010 to 2019, with two outbreaks developing into infection clusters in Guangdong and Yunnan provinces.

"China is not an endemic region for chikungunya fever, so the general population lacks immunity, making them susceptible to contracting the disease," the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a recent statement.

Liu Qiyong, chief vector control expert at the China CDC, said during a recent interview with China Central Television that rising global infections have driven the surge of cases in China this year.

"The virus's global circulation has led to its importation into China, where Aedes mosquitoes — the primary vector — are present. This has facilitated local transmission, resulting in the current domestic outbreak," he said.