The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health in the People’s Republic of China recently announced that the outbreak of Chikungunya fever (CF) has accelerated approximately 119 km north of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
In July this year, an outbreak of CF occurred in the Shunde District of Foshan City, Guangdong Province, triggered by imported cases.
As of July 24, 2025, the CHP reported 3,645 confirmed cases in Foshan. The majority of cases (3,317) were reported in Shunde District.
All cases have been mild, with no severe or fatal cases reported to date.
Furthermore, there have been no confirmed cases of CF in Hong Kong, a city with over 7 million residents, since 2020.
‘Although Aedes aegypti, the primary vector for spreading CF, is not found in Hong Kong, Aedes albopictus is another vector that can transmit CF. Imported cases of CF can lead to local transmission if mosquitoes bite them during the communicable period,’ wrote the CHP.
Regarding Macao, located south of Guangdong Province on China’s eastern coast, the first and second confirmed cases this year were recorded in mid-July. These patients travelled to Shunde and Nanhai, respectively, during the incubation period and were classified as imported cases.
Dr Tsui added in a press release that CF can easily lead to large-scale outbreaks in environments with severe mosquito infestations, placing a burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, CF should not be taken lightly.
The CHP currently recommends that the public use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites effectively.
While two Chikungunya vaccines are approved for use in the United States and are recommended when visiting outbreak areas, they are not offered in China.