The United States warns travelers about the Chikungunya virus, spread by mosquito bites, in China

The United States warns people who travel to China over Chikungunya, a virus that spreads humans through mosquito bites.

The centers for disease control and prevention have issued a level 2 travel notice for people traveling to the country, urging them to “practice improved precautions.”

The notice, issued last week, says that Chikungunya’s outbreak is located in the province of Guangdong, and most cases reported in the city of Foshan. In recent weeks, the region near Hong Kong has reported more than 7,000 cases.

“It can be protected by avoiding mosquito bites, which includes the use of insect repellent; wear long -sleeved shirts and pants; and remain in places with air conditioning or have screens in the windows and doors,” says the CDC.

The Chikungunya virus first identified in Africa in the early 1950s, and the CDCs have issued travel notices about it for several countries, which currently include Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

The virus causes a disease of the same name with symptoms that include serious joint pain, fever and fatigue, which generally begin three to seven days after a bit of a mosquito infected, says the CDC.

“Most people improve in a week; however, some may have severe joint pain for months or years after acute disease,” says the agency, pointing out that death is rare.

The most at risk of serious diseases are newborns that are infected around the time they are born, as well as adults over 65 and people with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Pregnant women are urged to reconsider traveling to impacted areas, since the virus can pass to a baby before birth.

“Chikungunya’s symptoms are similar to those of Dengue and Zika, which makes Chikungunya easy to erroneously diagnose and hindering countries that accurately determine the number of infected people,” according to the World Health Organization.

Although CDC notes there is no specific treatment, vaccines are available and are recommended for people who plan to visit an area with an outbreak of Chikungunya.

Health officials in China have ordered mass measures to combat the virus, which blooms after the rain once to the century in southern China. The measures range from disinfectant clouds to possible fines for people who do not disperse the stagnant water that accumulates in articles such as flower pots.

Beijing has learned strict and fast containment lessons fighting the SARs in 2003 and COVID-19 Since 2019. Doctors have forced patients to remain in hospitals for seven days to stop greater propagation.

“The current situation is preventable, treatable and controllable,” said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Ministry Guo Jiakun.

The Association press contributed to this report.

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