The province of Guangdong, in southern China, is on alert due to an epidemic outbreak of Chikungunya. With 8,000 infections reported, the city of Foshan has been the hardest hit. For this reason, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that travelers exercise extreme caution to avoid contagion. This is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes known as the dengue mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito. Therefore, authorities recommend maximum caution and have implemented the protocol for epidemic outbreaks.
Citizens are almost living in a confinement similar to that of Covid-19, and they are reliving scenes such as drones spraying insecticide or the presence of larvivorous fish in ponds to eliminate mosquitoes. The United States has approved vaccines for Chikungunya, but China does not, which leaves them without medical treatment.
Symptoms appear between 2 to 3 days after the bite, and they include fever, joint pain, and/or skin rash. It is not transmitted from person to person, so the spread is not excessively fast. However, there are already more than 8,000 reported cases, so authorities recommend taking preventive measures such as wearing clothing that covers the skin, using mosquito repellent, and avoiding, as much as possible, traveling to areas of contagion.
Chinkungunya virus
The chikungunya virus was first identified in 1952, in Tanzania. In recent decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 100 countries that have had cases or outbreaks of this disease. It has been more common in America, Asia, and Africa, while Europe has only had isolated cases. The transmission of this virus occurs through the bite of a mosquito, specifically the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, known as the dengue mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito.
Alert in South China
Although the National Health Commission of China has classified all cases as mild and without deaths, authorities continue to recommend a lot of caution. There are already more than 8,000 reported cases in Guangdong, where the city of Foshan has been the most affected. Authorities have implemented epidemic outbreak protocols, which include a lockdown similar to that of Covid-19, the use of drones to spray insecticide from the air, and the introduction of larvivorous fish in ponds. The situation is worsening due to the numerous rains falling in southern China, which favors the creation of stagnant water and the proliferation of mosquitoes.
What are the symptoms of this virus?
The symptoms of chikungunya are similar to those of the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms typically appear between 3 and 7 days after being bitten. The risk is highest during the first week, when the affected person may experience fever and joint pain. There are also cases where headache, skin rashes, muscle pain, or joint swelling are experienced. It is important to emphasize that the virus is not transmitted through direct contact, nor through coughing or sneezing.
It is only transmitted if infected blood is manipulated or through blood transfusions. However, chikungunya can leave aftereffects such as joint pain, which can last for months or years, and even cause long-term functional injury. The most vulnerable population is, as in any case, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases.
What do the authorities recommend if I travel?
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, over 240,000 cases have been reported worldwide and 90 deaths since its first detection to the present. This is why chikungunya is considered a public health problem. From the CDC, they recommend implementing preventive measures against mosquitoes, such as using repellents, wearing clothing that covers the skin, and avoiding, as much as possible, sources of infection.
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