China, Pacific Islands Face Large Mosquito-Borne Virus Outbreaks Amid U.S. Travel Warnings

Southern China has been grappling with a large chikungunya fever outbreak, particularly in Guangdong province’s Foshan city, which has seen over 10,000 cases since July. Chinese authorities responded with stringent containment measures similar to their zero-Covid strategy, including frequent insecticide spraying and quarantine mandates for suspected cases. Experts link the outbreak to warmer weather and a rapidly spreading virus strain, with the disease’s global spread accelerated by climate change, as evidenced by over 270,000 cases worldwide in 2025. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel advisory urging enhanced precautions for travelers to affected regions including southern China, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, and Sri Lanka. In the Pacific Islands, a severe dengue fever outbreak, another mosquito-borne illness, has also surged, with thousands infected and several deaths, highlighting the broader impact of global warming on vector-borne diseases. Meanwhile, local authorities in Florida have issued advisories on mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus, emphasizing ongoing surveillance and prevention efforts in the U.S.