BEIJING — China has recorded its largest chikungunya outbreak to date, with 3,195 cases reported in the southern industrial city of Foshan, Guangdong province, as of July.

The outbreak, traced back to an imported case earlier this month, surged rapidly—over 2,700 new infections were logged in just one week. Authorities have not yet identified the exact cause but have intensified mosquito-control efforts, urging residents to eliminate stagnant water and ensure proper drainage.

Spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes, chikungunya causes high fever, severe joint pain, and fatigue. Guangdong's warm, humid climate mirrors a global rise in mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika, linked to climate change and increased international travel.

WHO warns that over 5 billion people in 119 countries are at risk. So far in 2025, 220,000 cases and 80 deaths have been reported globally, including local outbreaks in France and Italy.