The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was considering a travel notice for China because of rising numbers of Chikungunya infections in the country.
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This followed a surge in the mosquito-borne disease in China, which has recorded over 5,000 cases since the beginning of last month, with most of them in the southern province of Guangdong.
Foshan, the Guangdong city hit hardest by the outbreak, had 5,155 confirmed cases as of Sunday. The city upgraded its public health emergency response on Thursday to level III, representing a “relatively major” public health event. China has a four-tier public health response system, with level I representing the most serious category.
Here are a few things you need to know.
What is Chikungunya fever?
The Chikungunya virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Fever and joint pains are the most common symptoms, but headaches, muscle pain, joint swelling and rashes have also been reported.
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