China has recorded 10,000 cases in an outbreak of a virus that is thought to be the largest of its kind on record in the country. The chikungunya virus is spread via mosquito bites, and symptoms can include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and rash. Similar to dengue fever, the young and older people, as well as those with pre-existing medical conditions, are most at risk. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the US, there are no medicines to treat the condition.
The southern manufacturing hub of Foshan in Guangdong province is the area worst-affected in China at present, but its has now reached Hong Kong, with the region confirming five cases this year. Taiwan has also recorded its first infection, which is believed to have stemmed from the outbreak on the mainland. On August 6, it was reported that Chinese authorities had taken preventive measures including distributing mosquito nets and spraying clouds of disinfectant to try and curb the spread.
Officials also threatened fines for people who fail to disperse standing water and even deployed drones to hunt down insect-breeding grounds.
At the time, more than 7,000 cases of the disease had been reported as of Wednesday, focused largely on the manufacturing hub of Foshan near Hong Kong, AP reported.
Yesterday, the FDA in the US lifted a pause on the administration of a vaccine for the virus.
The UK Government says several of its teams at the UKHSA “play a vital role in tackling diseases like chikungunya”.
It added: “Our Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology group (MEZE) monitor and assess new and existing species and the threat they pose to public health, advising the government on appropriate measures.
“The Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (EIZ) Team provide epidemic intelligence, while the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provides clinical advice and laboratory testing of samples.
“The Travel Health Team collaborates with the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) to translate all of this information into comprehensive advice for health professionals and members of the public.”
Officials added that the virus’ “rapid global spread reflects our interconnected world, where infected travellers can inadvertently introduce viruses to new regions”.
“Climate change and urbanisation are likely to expand the range of Aedes mosquitoes, potentially bringing chikungunya to new areas,” health experts said.
“The presence of suitable mosquito vectors in parts of Europe, combined with regular travel from endemic areas, means the risk of local transmission in temperate regions remains a genuine concern.”
