Recently, there have been outbreaks of Chikungunya fever in various locations in Guangdong Province, China. While official reports indicate that most cases are mild, local governments have implemented extreme and disproportionate measures in response to the virus, including mandatory blood tests and household disinfection. Experts believe that the intention behind these extreme prevention measures by local governments is to gain significant political capital and exploit the situation for financial gain.
Official data shows that from August 17th to August 23rd, 2025, Guangdong Province reported 336 new local cases of Chikungunya fever, with no reports of severe cases or deaths. As of August 16th, the province had nearly ten thousand confirmed cases.
Chikungunya virus belongs to the same family as the Dengue virus and is commonly found in Africa. The incubation period is 2 to 12 days, with symptoms such as muscle pain and rash. Most cases resolve within a week, with a mortality rate of about 0.1%, primarily affecting infants and the elderly.
In contrast to the relatively mild outbreak, the prevention and control measures taken by local Chinese authorities appear to be extremely harsh. For example, the Haizhu District government in Guangzhou requires all residents to undergo blood tests, while in Foshan, villagers’ vegetable plots were forcibly cleared and cemented over. In places like Maoming, villages have been subjected to extensive weeding, widespread spraying of pesticides, and the destruction of residents’ personal vegetation.
These official prevention measures have sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many people mocking them as a “replay of the ‘Zero COVID’ campaign.” Some internet users commented, “From nationwide nucleic acid testing in the past to clearing mosquitoes now; from sealing off neighborhoods in the past to sealing off vegetable plots now. Officials always find ways to hassle the common people.”
Regarding the motives behind this wave of “extreme prevention measures” by the government, a WeChat public account named “Clear Vision Culture” stated that it represents a collapse of the rule of law and a human rights disaster, essentially a way to “profit from the epidemic.”
The article revealed that behind the testing kits and isolation facilities lies a “prevention profit group” formed through collusion between officials and businesses. For instance, a certain city mandates that all “suspected contacts” stay at designated isolation hotels, charging a daily fee of 480 yuan, while the hotel is actually operated by relatives of local officials, with an advertised price of only 128 yuan.
“When epidemic prevention turns into a business, every mosquito becomes a money tree,” the article argued, highlighting the rampant abuse of power and showcasing the “cancerous growth of authority.”
In a totalitarian society, power is easily abused, as noted by Mr. Li from mainland China, saying disasters become “a feast for power abusers” when massive profits are involved. He pointed out that in this distorted power structure, natural calamities transform into typical man-made disasters.
Commentator Tang Jingyuan, now residing in the United States, further revealed the political considerations behind this epidemic prevention model. He explained that Guangdong’s prevention measures are not just a farce but a “carefully crafted deception by the government.” This model is essentially a replica of the “dynamic zero” campaign from the past, aiming at achieving dual objectives.
Tang pointed out that, politically, the government seeks to gain significant political capital by showcasing its dedication and execution abilities in epidemic prevention. Economically, it presents an opportunity to exploit the situation for financial gain.
He mentioned that many designated entities responsible for testing and isolation are, in reality, officials’ relatives or proxies. Additionally, authorities can use the epidemic as a cover to address local economic challenges and evade accountability.