An outbreak of the chikungunya virus in China has prompted authorities to launch aggressive prevention efforts – from distributing mosquito nets and spraying disinfectant to imposing fines on those who fail to eliminate standing water and deploying drones to locate mosquito breeding sites.
More than 7,000 cases have been reported as of Wednesday, concentrated mainly in Foshan, a manufacturing hub near Hong Kong, which has recorded just one case.
Officials say new infections are slowly declining.
Chikungunya, transmitted by mosquitoes, causes fever and severe joint pain similar to dengue fever, with young children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions most vulnerable.
Chinese state television has shown workers spraying clouds of disinfectant around city streets, residential areas, construction sites and other places where people may come into contact with virus-bearing mosquitoes that breed in standing water.
