
In Foshan, over 4,000 confirmed cases of chikungunya fever have been reported across five districts. In response to the sharp increase in cases and the emergence of outbreaks, Professor Zhang Wenhong, Director of the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases and Head of Institute of Infection and Health in Fudan University, explained that China has not previously experienced a pandemic caused by imported chikungunya fever, leading to a lack of basic immunity to the virus. This results in faster transmission compared to other endemic regions.
According to domestic media reports, Zhang believes that with timely and effective measures, Foshan should still be within a critical window to control the outbreak and can prevent the further development of an infection storm and the virus's spread to surrounding areas. He also noted that current infections are primarily mild and can be managed with symptomatic treatment.
Zhang mentioned that humans are also a source of the virus, aiding in its transmission from humans to mosquitoes and then back to humans. The convenience of modern transportation allows for leapfrog transmission of diseases, as the virus can be carried by people to new mosquito habitats, thereby expanding the areas affected by chikungunya.
Zhang stated that the key moving forward is to make every effort to eliminate mosquito breeding sites; at the same time, surrounding areas must closely monitor suspected cases. He added that after the outbreak, local sero-epidemiological studies must be conducted immediately to clarify the extent of the infection coverage and the potential risk of new infection storms in the future.
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