The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning for Americans to exercise “enhanced precautions” while traveling to China.
The warning was issued due to an outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus.
The agency’s updated advisory highlights the rapidly spreading cases in Guangdong province, particularly in the city of Foshan.
In Foashan, over 7,000 cases have been confirmed since June 2025.
Chikungunya virus typically manifests with symptoms such as fever and joint pain.
The symptoms appear 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Additional symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
While most individuals recover within a week, some may experience severe joint pain for months or even years following the acute illness.
The CDC further cautioned that certain groups are at greater risk of severe disease.
Those groups include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (65 years or older), and those with medical conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
Despite the severity of the symptoms, death from chikungunya remains rare, and there is currently no specific treatment for the virus.
In Foshan, local efforts to control the outbreak have included deploying drones to identify mosquito breeding sites, according to The New York Times.
They are also spraying residents with mosquito repellent before allowing them into buildings.
Officials are even releasing mosquito-eating fish into ponds.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that, as of July, approximately 240,000 cases of chikungunya have been documented across 16 countries and territories globally, resulting in 90 deaths.
Beyond China, the CDC noted that other countries, including Bolivia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka, are also experiencing outbreaks.
Americans traveling to Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand are at an elevated risk of exposure.
To reduce the risk of infection, the CDC recommends taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
These include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in accommodations with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.
Additionally, vaccination is recommended for travelers visiting areas with active chikungunya outbreaks, and there are currently two approved chikungunya vaccines in the U.S.
The CDC also urged travelers to seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms such as fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash during or after travel.
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