Taiwan Reports First Chikungunya Case Amid China’s Historic Outbreak

TDT | Manama

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Taiwan has confirmed its first chikungunya fever case for 2025, linked to a large outbreak sweeping southern China. The virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, has infected over 8,000 people in China’s Guangdong province, particularly in the manufacturing city of Foshan.

The infected individual, a Taiwanese woman, had recently traveled to Foshan and returned to Taiwan on July 30. Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) promptly identified the case and raised the travel advisory for Guangdong to level 2 out of 3, recommending travelers take enhanced precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Chikungunya virus symptoms typically include high fever, rash, headache, nausea, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain that can last for several weeks. Experts say the outbreak in Foshan is unprecedented in scale, driven by a population with limited immunity and favorable environmental conditions for the virus-carrying Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

Chinese authorities have responded aggressively to contain the spread. Measures include household inspections, enforced use of bed nets, drone-assisted fogging to kill mosquitoes, and fines for residents who maintain stagnant water — a common mosquito breeding ground. Foshan residents can be fined up to 10,000 RMB (around $1,400) for violations.

This outbreak follows heavy monsoon rains and a series of typhoons in southern China, which have created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. Despite the surge, recent reports from China’s state media indicate the outbreak may have peaked, with new case numbers declining in Guangdong.

The spread of chikungunya to Taiwan highlights the ongoing regional health risks posed by mosquito-borne diseases and underscores the need for vigilance, especially for travelers returning from affected areas.