Chikungunya Outbreak: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel alerts warning American travelers of an “elevated risk” of exposure to chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, in China and multiple other countries. The alert follows a sharp rise in reported cases worldwide.
Global Chikungunya Outbreak
So far this year, an estimated 240,000 chikungunya infections have been reported across Central and South America, Africa, the Indian Ocean region, and Asia. The disease has resulted in 90 deaths globally. In China, authorities in Guangdong Province have confirmed at least 7,000 cases since June.
Also Read: What Is Legionnaires’? The Water-Borne Killer That’s Struck Harlem NYC
What is Chikungunya, And How Does It Spread?
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by infected female mosquitoes, which are also known to carry dengue and Zika viruses. The disease is not contagious between humans.
🚨 CHINA IS BACK IN LOCKDOWN – THIS TIME, IT’S MOSQUITOES
– 7,000+ infected with chikungunya, a rare mosquito virus.
– Entire districts in Guangdong sealed off.
– Patients isolated in mosquito-proof quarantine beds.
– Drones, fines, chemical sprays: full COVID-style crackdown.… pic.twitter.com/xHoqk5m8iN— HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) August 5, 2025
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “severe symptoms and deaths from chikungunya are rare and usually occur in young babies or elderly people with other coexisting health problems.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the most common symptoms include fever and joint pain. Additional symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash.
CDC Issues Travel Alerts For Multiple Chikungunya-Affected Countries
The CDC has issued level 2 “practice enhanced precautions” travel health notices due to chikungunya outbreaks in the following regions:
Bolivia (South America)
Guangdong Province (China)
Indian Ocean region countries and territories: Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia, and Sri Lanka
In addition, the CDC has warned US travelers of elevated risk when visiting the following countries:
Brazil
Colombia
India
Mexico
Nigeria
Pakistan
The Philippines
Thailand
🦟After a major outbreak of chikungunya and dengue fever in Guangdong, China, authorities sprayed insecticides everywhere. Netizens joked: “I don’t know if the mosquitoes are gone, but it feels like we’re the ones being wiped out.” https://t.co/RPZYCevirk pic.twitter.com/dmpZWn3tHu
— Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferzeng97) August 4, 2025
Chikungunya in China: Thousands Infected in Guangdong
In China, most of the chikungunya cases have emerged in Foshan, a city in Guangdong Province with a population of approximately 7.8 million. Hong Kong reported its first case on Monday.
In response, authorities have launched a large-scale “patriotic public health campaign,” which, according to the New York Times, has stirred memories of past COVID-19 crackdowns.
Local efforts in Foshan include spraying people with insect repellent before allowing them into buildings, home inspections requiring residents to discard stagnant water, and even criminal charges for those who fail to comply. In Guicheng district, some households have had their electricity cut.
Drones are being used to detect mosquito-breeding sites in stagnant water, while thousands of mosquito-larvae-eating fish and predatory “elephant mosquitoes” that feed on smaller, virus-carrying insects have been released into the environment.
Chikungunya in US?
The CDC notes that no locally acquired chikungunya cases have been reported in U.S. states or territories since 2019.
However, the U.S. recorded 199 travel-associated cases in 2024 and has reported 46 such cases so far this year.
The CDC recommends vaccination for those planning to visit areas affected by an outbreak.
“Vaccination is recommended for travelers who are visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak,” the CDC says.
“Some U.S. travelers (e.g., pregnant women) can use this information on chikungunya risk to help decide if they should avoid travel.”
Also Read: China Health Alert: Chikungunya Virus Infects 7,000+ In Guangdong, Experts Warn…
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
