The quarantine nightmare returns to China: the chikungunya virus has already infected 7,000 people. The symptoms

China is battling a chikungunya virus outbreak , prompting authorities to adopt preventative measures, including mosquito nets and disinfectants, fines for those who fail to eliminate stagnant water, and even the use of drones to locate the insects' breeding grounds.

Over 7,000 cases have been reported today, mainly in the industrial hub of Foshan, near Hong Kong. According to authorities, the number of new cases appears to be slowly decreasing. The chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes fever and joint pain , similar to dengue fever, with the young, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions most at risk.

China, insecticide for the spread of Chikungunya in Dongguan, Guangdong (GettyImages)

Chinese state television showed workers spraying clouds of disinfectant on city streets , residential areas, construction sites, and other areas where people might come into contact with virus-carrying mosquitoes that breed in stagnant water. Workers sprayed disinfectant in some places before entering office buildings, a return to the controversial hardline tactics used by China to combat Covid-19 . Those who fail to empty bottles, flowerpots, or other containers outdoors can face fines of up to 10,000 yuan and power cuts.

China, insecticide for the spread of Chikungunya in Dongguan, Guangdong (GettyImages)

The United States has issued a travel advisory advising citizens against traveling to China's Guangdong province, as well as to countries such as Bolivia and the Indian Ocean island nations. Brazil is among the other countries hardest hit by the virus. Heavy rains and high temperatures have exacerbated the crisis in China , a phenomenon common in tropical regions but particularly intense this year.

The chikungunya virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, causes dengue-like fever and joint pain. Those most at risk are the young, the elderly, and people with preexisting medical conditions.

Chinese state television showed workers spraying disinfectant in streets, residential neighborhoods, construction sites, and other places frequented by people, attempting to eradicate mosquitoes born in stagnant water. In some cases, the operations even took place before entering buildings, echoing the controversial tactics used during the fight against Covid-19.