Taiwan records 1st imported case of chikungunya fever via traveler to China

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) — Taiwan on Thursday confirmed its first imported case of the mosquito-borne viral disease chikungunya fever in a person who traveled to China, according to the country’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

A Taiwanese woman in her 40s reportedly visited friends last month in Foshan City and Shenzhen - both located in Guangdong province - and returned on July 30. She began developing symptoms of fever on July 31 and sought medical treatment on August 1, said the CDC in a statement.

"She sought medical treatment and was hospitalized for symptoms such as rash and ankle and limb pain. She was diagnosed after testing. The case has now recovered and been discharged from the hospital," according to the CDC.

Taiwan has reported 17 cases of chikungunya thus far, each imported from abroad. The highest number of cases originated from Indonesia at 13, followed by the Philippines with two, and one case each from Sri Lanka and China’s Guangdong Province.

Taiwan raised its travel alert for China’s southern Guangdong province to Level 2 on Monday, following a surge of 2,892 new chikungunya cases reported between July 27 and August 2 in the region.

The Chikungunya virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, according to the CDC.

The virus is rarely fatal, but newborns, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems face a greater risk.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid