Chikungunya mosquito virus: what it is and why it’s spreading so fast

Australian Community Media

China has rolled out drastic containment measures as the mosquito-borne 'chikungunya virus' spreads rapidly, while the US has confirmed its first local case in six years. So what is it and what are its symptoms? This video includes ACM-produced voiceover powered by AI.

Transcript

00:00China has launched sweeping mosquito control efforts as chikungunya virus spreads rapidly

00:10across the country, while the United States has confirmed its first locally acquired case

00:16in six years in New York.

00:19It's the nature of the virus that it is very transmissible from a mosquito to a human to a mosquito.

00:24The mosquito-borne disease can spread to humans through a bite and cause fever, rash and severe joint pain.

00:33What's worse, symptoms can linger for weeks, months or even longer.

00:39Experts say it's rarely fatal, but the pain can be debilitating.

00:45The virus has infected more than 16,000 people in southern China's Guangdong province,

00:50prompting authorities to deploy drastic measures, including drones spraying insecticide

00:57and isolating patients behind mosquito nets.

01:01The World Health Organisation described it as China's largest chikungunya outbreak on record.

01:08Worldwide, more than 445,000 infections and 155 deaths have been reported this year across 40 countries.

01:18Travellers to affected regions, including China, India and Brazil,

01:23have been urged to wear long sleeves, use insect repellent and remove standing water to prevent mosquito breeding.

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