TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control has raised its travel alert for Guangdong Province to Level 2, advising travelers to take enhanced precautions against chikungunya fever, reports said Tuesday.
Previous guidance had simply urged travelers to "pay attention," but the elevated warning comes after China confirmed 7,000 cases of the mosquito-borne illness on Monday. There is currently no specific treatment or cure for the disease.
Symptoms include sudden and persistent high fever, severe joint pain, fatigue, vomiting, and skin rashes.
Taiwan first issued a health notice in late July, urging travelers to Guangdong to follow local health guidelines for both dengue and chikungunya fever, per CNA. The two diseases are transmitted by the same mosquitoes—Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, also known as Asian tiger mosquitoes.
The incubation period ranges from two to 12 days, and symptoms usually last three to seven days. However, unlike dengue, chikungunya may cause prolonged fatigue and intense joint pain lasting weeks, months, or even years.
Newborns, older adults over 65, and individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease are considered especially vulnerable.
The CDC advised travelers to wear light-colored clothing that covers as much skin as possible and to use government-approved mosquito repellents containing DEET or Picaridin. Passengers who feel unwell upon returning to Taiwan should report symptoms to airport medical personnel.
