A worldwide virus spread by mosquitoes that is spreading through southern China has reached the United States.
The first locally acquired case of the mosquito-borne illness in the United States since 2019 has been confirmed by the New York State Department of Health to have occurred on Long Island.
In the last two months, the number of chikungunya cases in China's southern Guangdong province has more than doubled from 7000 to 16,500, leading to the implementation of Covid-style lockdowns in an effort to contain the illness.
China's condition was dubbed the "biggest reported chikungunya outbreak to date" by the World Health Organization in July.
Travelers from other countries are concerned about the epidemic because they may be exposed to the virus and bring it back to their home countries.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australians visiting China to protect themselves from mosquito bites on its Smart Traveller website because of the possibility of contracting diseases like chikungunya.
How dangerous is the current outbreak, what is chikungunya, and what threat does it pose to Australia?
Describe chikungunya.
Chikungunya is characterized by fever, joint pain, and swelling.
Headache, rash, muscle soreness, nausea, and fatigue are possible additional symptoms. Chikungunya can occasionally be lethal.
People with pre-existing medical illnesses, elderly persons, and infants are among those who are more likely to experience severe symptoms than others.
Most patients will begin to feel symptoms three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, though the disease can take up to 12 days to manifest.
Other than controlling discomfort with drugs like paracetamol, there is no cure for chikungunya.
Some patients may have persistent fatigue and joint discomfort for months or even years, but most people recover in a matter of weeks.
How do I obtain it?
Chikungunya is transmitted by female mosquitoes carrying the virus, which contract the disease when they bite on an infected human.
Once bitten, the virus multiplies in the mosquito, which can then bite other humans to spread the infection.
Although there are over 3000 mosquito species, just two—Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus—are frequently implicated in the spread of chikungunya, and both species are found in Australia.
Because they mostly attack exposed legs and ankles, these mosquitoes are known as "ankle biters" and bite during the day.
worldwide outbreak
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports that since the beginning of 2025, there have been 90 fatalities and over 240,000 chikungunya virus illnesses in 16 nations.
With outbreaks in Europe and now the US, the rising number of cases are reported in China, South America, and Africa.
In China, scientists are releasing big "elephant mosquitoes," whose larvae consume the smaller insects that spread the illness, and using drones to locate mosquito breeding grounds.
Residents of impacted districts in China have been instructed to remove standing water from their houses, including from flowerpots, coffee makers, and empty bottles, according to a BBC report.
People who violate the law risk fines of up to 10,000 yuan, or roughly $2200, and in more extreme situations, criminal prosecution for "obstructing the protection of infectious diseases."
According to the New York Times, some afflicted inhabitants of Foshan have been transferred to "quarantine wards," where they are housed behind screens and mosquito nets.
China claims that a returning foreign visitor in July is to blame for the outbreak.
According to a study, it is unknown exactly where the infected mosquito bite occurred in the United States.
How about Australia?
A. albopictus is a more recent arrival, having been first recorded in the Torres Strait in 2005, whereas A. aegypti, which carries chikungunya, has been in northern Queensland since the 1800s.
While A. albopictus mosquitoes are still restricted to the Torres Strait, A. aegypti mosquitoes are now present in most of Queensland.
Although there have not been any documented cases of chikungunya transmission in Australia as of yet, cases do happen to persons who have recently traveled abroad, typically to southern Asia or the Pacific Islands.
In Australia, there were 42 chikungunya cases in 2023, 70 in 2024, and 133 as of this writing in 2025.
Traveler advice
The best way to stop the spread of chikungunya is to protect yourself from mosquito bites, according to advice given to visitors to possibly impacted nations.
Wearing long sleeves and pants, applying insect repellents, clearing the area of any standing water, and remaining inside air-conditioned areas or behind mosquito netting when outside are all ways to stay protected.
None of the chikungunya vaccinations are authorized for use in Australia, despite the fact that two are in the US.
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