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As the chikungunya outbreak in southern China gains public attention with over 4,000 cases reported in Guangdong's Foshan, health experts reassure there's no need to panic. Effective precautions can control mosquito populations and protect individuals during daily activities. The outbreak has spread across all five districts of Foshan, with 3,627 cases confirmed in Shunde district alone.
In response, Guangdong health authorities have launched a province-wide campaign to eliminate stagnant water and control mosquito breeding, aiming to curb the spread of both dengue fever and chikungunya fever. The Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee convened a meeting to discuss prevention and control efforts, noting that while initial measures have shown results, challenges remain, especially due to the summer typhoon season and heavy rainfall complicating prevention efforts.
Other cities across China have issued public health reminders. The Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) released a Q&A guide on chikungunya, stating the virus is primarily transmitted through bites from Aedes mosquitoes and not through casual contact. Most infections are mild, with symptoms typically resolving within a week.
The Beijing CDC reassures residents that the risk of local transmission remains very low, and there is no need for panic. Despite only sporadic imported cases found in the city so far, the growing volume of international travel maintains a risk of imported cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a potential global chikungunya epidemic, calling for urgent action to prevent its spread. The WHO notes chikungunya has been detected and transmitted in 119 countries globally, putting 5.6 billion people at risk.
Guangzhou-based medical expert Zhuang Shilihe advises Guangdong residents that prevention is crucial, emphasizing mosquito control measures and personal protection like using repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants. The impact of control measures will take time to become apparent due to the disease's incubation period of around 2 to 9 days.
This year's outbreak is larger than previous ones due to the virus's high global prevalence, favorable climate conditions, and a particularly efficient strain of the virus spreading via Aedes mosquitoes. China recorded its first imported chikungunya case in 2008, with small-scale outbreaks occurring in 2010 and 2019, but none reaching the scale seen this year.
Editor: CH
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