China is currently grappling with its largest-ever outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral illness, with the epicenter in Foshan, a major city in southern Guangdong Province.
The illness caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is spread exclusively through mosquito bites—not through human-to-human contact. The virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which thrive in warm, humid climates. Once infected, a person can serve as a source of the virus for other mosquitoes, fueling further spread.
