Welcome to “Current Events Scan”. I am Jin Ran.
Recently, when you open Chinese news, you might notice a unfamiliar term: Chikungunya Fever. At first glance, it doesn’t sound alarming, but once you add the word “epidemic” to it, the feeling changes. When we understand that this epidemic is caused by ubiquitous mosquitoes, the whole situation feels like thinking it’s an action movie only to realize it’s a horror film. Currently, the Chikungunya Fever epidemic has not only swept through Foshan, Guangdong in China, but also spread south to Macau and north to Beijing. Even the World Health Organization has issued a warning, stating that this might trigger another global pandemic.
According to reports, the Chikungunya Fever epidemic was discovered in Foshan, Guangdong on July 8th, but it was only officially reported on the 15th. In less than 10 days, confirmed cases in Foshan soared to 4,000. Please note, this number is just officially released by the Chinese authorities.
Mosquito reproduction speeds up in hot summer temperatures, especially in areas with stagnant water after rain. It’s no wonder that the epidemic started in the hot and humid south. Media reports indicate that stagnant water areas in Foshan, such as parks and construction sites, have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The epidemic quickly spread to Macau. Although the number of cases in Macau is low, the rapid spread, mainly concentrated in tourist areas, adds a significant risk of overseas transmission. Macau’s Health Department has activated an emergency response plan.
Subsequently, Chikungunya Fever began spreading to northern regions. Just yesterday, cases of Chikungunya Fever appeared in Beijing, with as many as over 3,000 cases reported at once. Authorities uncommonly admitted that the situation of the epidemic is “quite severe”. Interestingly, cases in Beijing are primarily among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, with cases concentrated in the Haidian and Chaoyang districts.
The term “Chikungunya” in a local language in Tanzania means “bent-over walking person” because the joint pain caused by this disease can make people walk hunched over like old grandmas. In simple terms, it is an acute febrile disease caused by a virus, characterized by high fever and joint pain. Chikungunya Fever is considered a “painful brother” along with Dengue Fever. Once infected, it can linger for weeks or even months, making joints ache and movements difficult.
Chikungunya Fever dates back to 1952 in Tanzania, where scientists first identified the virus. Initially, it was just a local disease in Africa, but starting from 2005, it suddenly jumped from Africa to the Indian Ocean islands, Asia, Europe, and even Latin America. Even Taiwan has reported imported cases annually, with localized transmission cases appearing in southern Taiwan. Unlike the common cold transmitted through droplets or air, Chikungunya Fever spreads through mosquitoes acting as intermediaries. An infected mosquito bites a person, transmitting the virus into their body. They become a new “virus reservoir”, and if the next mosquito bites them and then bites another person… the cycle continues. Typical symptoms besides fever and joint pain include rash, headache, muscle aches, and overall fatigue. While some recover in a week, others may experience joint pain for months to half a year.
What’s more concerning is the absence of a vaccine or specific treatment for Chikungunya Fever. Patients rely on their own bodies to slowly recover, with doctors only able to provide pain relief, fever reducers, and a recommendation to rest more.
Prevention of Chikungunya Fever boils down to three words: prevent mosquito bites. Specifically, this includes using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, avoiding places where mosquitoes thrive like picnicking, hiking, camping, and eliminating stagnant water containers at home (such as flowerpot saucers and dirty-water areas). Despite Chikungunya Fever not usually causing death, each flare-up brings excruciating pain to patients.
On July 23rd, the World Health Organization issued an emergency warning, predicting a potential global pandemic triggered by Chikungunya Fever. In 2005, the Dengue Fever epidemic swept through Southeast Asia, infecting tens of thousands of people. The epidemic led to the collapse of medical systems in Thailand and Indonesia, with economic losses totaling $1 billion. A spokesperson from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States stated, “The CDC has noted the reported Chikungunya Fever epidemic in Guangdong Province, China, and is currently evaluating the scale and scope of the situation.” Due to the rising number of infections, the CDC plans to issue travel warnings for China.
Some Chinese netizens sarcastically criticized the CDC, proving once again the discrimination and suppression of Chinese by American imperialism. Just as the criticism settled, a notice from “Fuzhou CDC” appeared online, elaborately written, but effectively instructing one thing: individuals returning from Foshan, Guangdong to Fujian must undergo 14 days of self-health observation. Comments from netizens read: “They have started to tighten control self-righteously again, and many people are cheering without realizing this might mark the beginning of another round of lockdown.” Some expressed gratitude to the government for reopening the old wounds in every Chinese person, reminding them of the mass nucleic acid testing and city lockdowns during “the wonderful years” from 2020 to 2022.
Reports state that Foshan, Guangdong has initiated a Level III emergency response, with the armed police participating in nucleic acid testing, covering over one million people. Similar measures may be replicated in Fuzhou, the provincial capital of Fujian.
Furthermore, Foshan authorities have designated 40 hospitals for “nucleic acid testing”. On July 26th, a video was shared by a Foshan resident showing locals queueing for blood tests to check for Chikungunya Fever infections. Netizens commented, “It feels like COVID again.” Others remarked, “Upgraded! Instead of throat swabs, it’s blood drawing now.”
Moreover, a Foshan netizen posted a video claiming to be forcibly detained at the lungjiang hospital and not allowed to leave.
Multiple local Foshan netizens confirmed that blood testing is an official requirement, stating, “It’s true, Foshan is in a serious condition now. At my workplace, one person got infected, and over 30 policemen are following him every day. My son went for a blood test a few days ago, and now anyone with a cold visiting the hospital must take a blood test.” An article shared on WeChat on July 26th stated, “Foshan has started nucleic acid testing again, will the next three years be like the past three years?”
At the same time, community and village committees in Foshan issued notices, suggesting residents dispose of potted water plants: “For aquatic plants, we suggest abandonment.” This is reminiscent of the period during the pandemic when many pets were abandoned.
Currently, first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai are on edge. “It seems like overnight, all mosquitoes in China have become the focus of monitoring.” A thought-provoking comment by a netizen reads: “The fear is no longer about mosquitoes; it’s about people waving electric mosquito swatters. When a means itself becomes the goal, whether it’s a pneumonia or a mosquito bite, the outcomes will be no different.”
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