China Resumes Temporary COVID Measures Due To Chikungunya Virus Outbreak

It is transmitted through mosquito bites.

In the Chinese province of Guangdong, the authorities are once again imposing strict sanitary restrictions reminiscent of the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Bloomberg, the reason was a rapidly spreading outbreak of chikungunya fever - a viral disease transmitted exclusively through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

The epicenter of the outbreak is the ten-million-strong city of Foshan. According to BBC, more than 7,000 cases of infection have been reported there since July. Hospitals in the city are putting patients in beds covered with mosquito nets, where they stay for a week, or until the virus is no longer detectable in tests. 95% of those who fall ill are discharged within seven days, and most cases are mild, local authorities note.

Till then, China is already employing comprehensive measures reminiscent of the COVID-19 approach. In Foshan, as Bloomberg reports, mass testing, travel history tracking, neighborhood-level disinfection and even monitoring of medicine purchases have been introduced. Pharmacies are required to log customer data for 47 products that relieve fever, rashes and joint pain - standard symptoms of chikungunya. A similar algorithm was used in the country during the fight against the coronavirus: the purchase of certain drugs could automatically restrict a person's movement and require a PCR test.

In Chinese social networks such as Weibo and Xiaohongshu, users' reactions range from alarm to irony: many perceive such measures as "deja vu" with a return to the times of total control. At the same time, the authorities are not yet considering the introduction of strict lockdowns, which dealt a serious blow to the economy during the pandemic, Bloomberg writes.

Health experts, however, criticize the excessiveness of some steps. According to RTI International senior epidemiologist Donal Bisanzio, killing the vectors - mosquitoes - rather than using anti-coronavirus approaches should be the priority to combat chikungunya. The virus is not transmitted from person to person: a mosquito becomes infected by biting a sick person and can then infect others, continuing the chain.

Local authorities are still focusing on insect control. A week-long mosquito eradication campaign has been launched in Foshan: mass disinfection, cleaning of standing water, use of mosquito spirals, and mandatory use of mosquito nets. Hotels, restaurants and businesses that ignore sanitary regulations can be fined up to 1,000 yuan (about $140).

Some regions outside Guangdong have also stepped up traffic controls. The cities of Fuzhou and Quanzhou, Fujian province, have introduced 14-day health monitoring for those traveling from Foshan. Residents should monitor the appearance of symptoms such as fever, headache and joint pain, and contact doctors immediately if they appear. Similar measures have been introduced in some areas of Shenzhen.

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