The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today that there was one new imported case of chikungunya virus in Taiwan. The patient is a Taiwanese woman in her 40s living in the central region.
She visited friends in Foshan City and Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China in July this year (2025). She returned to Taiwan on July 30th and developed fever symptoms on the 31st. On August 1st, she sought medical treatment and was hospitalized for symptoms such as rash, ankle and limb pain. She was diagnosed after testing.
The case has now recovered and been discharged from the hospital. She will continue to be monitored until August 26th. The health authorities found that the case had traveled to Guangdong Province, China during the incubation period before the onset of the disease, and she reported being bitten by mosquitoes while visiting friends in Guangdong. It is considered an imported case from China. The health authorities have completed a mosquito density survey, breeding source removal, and chemical control measures at the case's home.
The CDC reported a total of 17 confirmed cases of chikungunya as of August 6 this year, all imported from abroad. The highest number of cases was from Indonesia (13 cases), followed by the Philippines (2 cases), Sri Lanka, and Guangdong Province, China (1 case each).
The chikungunya epidemic in Guangdong Province, China, is severe. Since the first imported case was reported on July 8, the cumulative number of cases has exceeded 7,000.
In the past week (July 27-August 2), 2,892 new cases were reported, with the highest number in Foshan City (2,770 cases). Cases have recently been reported in other cities in the province, and imported cases have been reported in Macau and Hong Kong. Local cases have also recently been reported in Macau. Although the number of new daily cases in Foshan City has declined recently, the number of cases remains high.
In response to the growing outbreak of chikungunya in Guangdong, China, the CDC has comprehensively strengthened inbound fever screening and epidemic prevention education at international and mini-three-link ports, and is continuing to conduct in-flight travel epidemic prevention education. For those entering from Guangdong, China with suspected symptoms, quarantine measures have been strengthened, including TOCC (travel history, occupational history, contact history, and cluster history) risk assessments, testing, health education, and the distribution of mosquito repellent. This ensures timely identification of high-risk cases and provides post-entry health follow-up and care. The CDC also urges relevant travel agencies, tour guides, and airlines to cooperate in public awareness campaigns to raise public awareness of the risks and self-protection measures associated with travel to chikungunya-endemic areas. Recommendations include wearing light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and the use of government-approved mosquito repellent.
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The CDC explains that chikungunya is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes albopictus or Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The incubation period is 2 to 12 days, with a viremic phase lasting from 2 days before to 5 days after the onset of symptoms. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, joint pain or arthritis (especially in the small joints of the hands and feet, wrists, and ankles), headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, muscle pain, and a rash in approximately half of patients. Symptoms last for 3 to 7 days. Newborns, those over 65, and those with a history of hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease are at increased risk for severe complications of chikungunya.
The CDC reminds those planning to travel to Guangdong Province, China, or other areas where chikungunya is endemic to take effective mosquito repellent measures, including wearing light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and pants, and using government-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, or Irgac (IR3535). Upon entry, if you experience any suspected symptoms such as fever, limb aches, headache, muscle pain, or bone and joint pain, please inform airport quarantine personnel. If you experience any related symptoms after returning to your country, you should seek medical attention immediately and implement mosquito repellent measures. You should also disclose your TOCC (travel, occupational, contact, and community history) to facilitate early reporting, diagnosis, and treatment.