Already 3,000 sick in a week! No cure, favorite tourist destinations at risk.

The beginning of July brought the first case of chikungunya in China , but the scale of the epidemic far exceeds previous cases. The WHO had previously signaled the risk of a similar wave in many countries.

In Foshan, Guangdong province, the number of cases rose from about 478 to nearly 3,000 in a single week – a six-fold increase, according to the South China Morning Post, as cited by Medical Xpress. The province as a whole recorded 2,892 new infections between July 27 and August 2, with the vast majority in Foshan (2,770), while the provincial capital, Guangzhou, reported only a few dozen cases. However, no severe or fatal cases were recorded.

The provincial government announced the implementation of "decisive measures" and raised the crisis response level to Level III (four-level scale), indicating a significant health threat. China's chief epidemiologist called for rapid control of the situation and social stabilization.

The World Health Organization warns that chikungunya outbreaks in Indian Ocean regions , including Réunion and Madagascar, could lead to the virus expanding to Europe and other continents, as it did in 2004-2005. Meanwhile, the CDC is evaluating the possibility of issuing a travel warning for China. The agency is considering reports of an outbreak in Guangdong and assessing its scale before making a final decision.

The CDC has issued a notice informing travelers of the "chikungunya outbreak in Guangdong Province" and recommending increased precautions.

The disease is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes (primarily Aegypti and Albopictus). Symptoms of chikungunya include fever, severe joint pain, rash, muscle aches, and headaches. They typically last about a week, although joint pain can persist for months or years in a chronic form. Treatment is solely symptomatic—there are no specific medications. Preventative measures are key: repellents, covering clothing, eliminating standing water, and using mosquito nets.

Sources: Reuters/Bloomberg, South China Morning Post, Xinhua, Medical Xpress, CDC and WHO announcements