Global Spread of Chikungunya Virus Raises Concerns
The chikungunya virus, which has been causing significant health concerns in China, is now spreading to new regions. This mosquito-borne illness has prompted the implementation of quarantine measures and restrictions similar to those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has now reached Taiwan, marking a worrying development as case numbers surpass 10,000 in China.
Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed the first case of chikungunya fever in the country. The infection was identified in a woman who had recently returned from Foshan, a city in Guangdong Province that has become the epicenter of the outbreak. She arrived in Taiwan on July 30, raising alarms among public health officials.
Guangdong Province has reported at least 12 cities with confirmed cases, with approximately 3,000 infections recorded in the past week alone. This surge has brought the total number of cases in China above 10,000. In response, the U.S. CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Guangdong, urging Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the region.
Experts are concerned that the virus may already have reached the United States. Dr. Louisa Messenger, a mosquito researcher in Nevada, expressed her worries to the Daily Mail, stating, “This outbreak in China is very concerning. It [the virus] could already be here in the US; and really it’s just one plane flight away.”
Chikungunya is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the same species responsible for spreading dengue and Zika. While rarely fatal, the virus can cause severe symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and in some cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain.
Roger Hewson, a virus surveillance lead at the UK’s Wellcome Sanger Institute, noted that the current outbreak in China is the largest ever recorded. Al Jazeera reported that a global spike in cases began in early 2025, with major outbreaks occurring in the Indian Ocean islands of La Réunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, around 240,000 chikungunya cases and 90 related deaths have been recorded in 16 countries as of August 4. The virus has also spread to Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya, India, and is making its way to Europe.
Case counts have also increased in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji, and Kiribati. As of August 5, the U.S. CDC reports 46 cases of chikungunya in the U.S. this year, all contracted by travelers returning from high-risk areas. No deaths have been reported, but it remains unclear how many of these cases are linked to China’s outbreak.
Experts estimate that 1.6 million people travel between the U.S. and China every year, and it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito on a traveler to potentially spread the virus across America.
In addition to the advisory for China, the CDC has issued warnings for nine other countries, including Bolivia and Sri Lanka. The U.S. has experienced limited local transmission of the virus previously, most recently in 2014 and 2015 after cases were detected in Florida and Texas.
Infections are most common in Asia, Africa, and South America, but more recently, cases have also emerged in Europe and the U.S. Nearly half a million people were infected during a major outbreak in 2004–2005, which spread across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical officer with the World Health Organization, recently warned, “We are seeing history repeating itself,” referencing the scale of the earlier epidemic.
To protect against chikungunya, travelers are advised to use insect repellent, wear long clothing, and stay in air-conditioned or screened accommodations to avoid mosquito bites. Those experiencing fevers, joint pain, or rashes should seek medical attention for testing.
In China, authorities have implemented strict measures to control the spread of the virus. Travelers from Foshan were initially required to undergo a 14-day home quarantine, but this measure has since been lifted. Infected patients are isolated in hospital wards and covered with mosquito nets, remaining there for a week or until they test negative.
Chinese state workers have been spraying disinfectant in city streets, residential areas, and construction sites where people may come into contact with virus-carrying mosquitoes. Drones are being used to identify and eliminate breeding grounds, while residents are encouraged to empty outdoor containers that collect water.
Failure to comply with these restrictions can result in fines of up to $1,400 (10,000 Yuan), and electricity may be cut off for non-compliant residents.
The acute phase of the illness typically resolves within one to two weeks, but joint pain may persist for weeks, months, or even years in some cases. Newborns, seniors over 65, and individuals with underlying health issues face a higher risk of developing serious outcomes, including cardiovascular problems and, according to some studies, Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure triggered by post-viral inflammation.
Importantly, chikungunya cannot be transmitted directly from person to person. Instead, the virus spreads when a mosquito bites an infected individual, becomes a carrier, and then bites another person. Pregnant women who become infected near the time of delivery can also pass the virus to their baby during birth, leading to severe illness in newborns.
There is currently no antiviral treatment for chikungunya, but symptoms can be managed with rest, hydration, and pain relief medications such as acetaminophen.