A sudden outbreak of chikungunya virus has swept through southern China, with more than 7,000 cases confirmed in Guangdong province since July, prompting local authorities to roll out public health measures reminiscent of the strict COVID-19 controls.
The mosquito-borne illness, which causes severe joint pain, high fever and rash, has hit the city of Foshan hardest, fuelling fears of wider spread across the densely populated province. Officials have moved swiftly, isolating patients under mosquito nets, tracking medicine sales through real-name registration and unleashing drones to detect hidden breeding sites, all in a bid to halt transmission before it spirals out of control.
