Mosquito bites turn deadly after chikungunya virus cases cross 240,000, CDC issues urgent travel warning over spread from China to the world

U.S. health officials have issued a stark warning for travellers heading to China, after a surge in chikungunya virus cases hit Guangdong province. The CDC released a travel advisory on August 1 urging Americans to exercise enhanced precautions, marking the region a hotspot amid a global wave of infections.



Foshan, a major city in Guangdong, has recorded over 7,000 confirmed cases since June. Chinese authorities held an emergency conference last month to strategise prevention efforts and promised to release early warnings through all available platforms to curb the spread.



The 2025 chikungunya outbreak is not limited to China. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, over 240,000 people across the globe have been infected, with 90 fatalities reported so far. Other nations battling active outbreaks include Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia and Sri Lanka.


Additionally, countries like Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Nigeria are now being flagged as high-risk zones, even though official outbreaks have not yet been declared.


First identified in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The disease shares several symptoms with dengue and Zika but can escalate more severely in vulnerable individuals. The World Health Organization estimates 5.6 billion people globally are at risk of contracting arboviral infections such as chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever.


Health experts describe chikungunya symptoms as sudden and intense. The CDC outlines high fever, joint pain and swelling, muscle aches, headaches and skin rashes as the most common signs. Although most infections resolve within two to 12 days, some patients, particularly the elderly, newborns, and those with pre-existing health issues—may experience life-threatening complications including cardiovascular or neurological distress.



Currently, there are no antiviral treatments available. Doctors usually prescribe medications to manage fever and joint pain. Two vaccines have been approved but are not yet widely accessible. A U.S. vaccine was paused in May due to adverse event reports.


With no definitive cure and a rising death toll, prevention remains the most powerful defence.