China is grappling with its worst chikungunya outbreak since the virus was first detected there nearly two decades ago. According to national broadcaster CCTV, over 3,100 cases have been reported in July alone, concentrated in Foshan city in the southern province of Guangdong. The region’s hot and humid climate creates ideal conditions for mosquito breeding, fuelling the rapid spread of the disease.Chikungunya, first identified in Tanzania in 1952, is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same genus that spreads dengue and Zika viruses. In response to the rising threat, local authorities in Guangdong have stepped up anti-mosquito measures, urging residents to remove stagnant water from flower pots, containers and drains to reduce breeding sites.<h2>Symptoms and long-term impact</h2>&nbsp;Chikungunya infection typically leads to high fever, severe joint pain, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue. While most patients recover within days, some may continue to suffer from joint pain and stiffness for months or even years, particularly older adults or those with underlying health conditions. The WHO notes that this prolonged discomfort can resemble arthritis and significantly affect daily life.In China, the outbreak is part of a broader global trend. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported over 2,20,000 chikungunya cases and 80 deaths in 14 countries this year. Even France and Italy have documented locally acquired cases, underscoring the disease’s expanding reach amid climate change and increased international travel.&nbsp;<h2>How Mumbai is responding amid rising risk</h2>&nbsp;Closer to home, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified efforts to curb mosquito-borne diseases following early monsoon rains. Byculla and Parel have emerged as major hotspots, prompting insecticide squads to destroy thousands of breeding sites daily. Over the past year, the BMC has eliminated around 17,500 Anopheles (malaria-spreading) and 82,000 Aedes (dengue- and chikungunya-spreading) mosquito sites.&nbsp;<h2>Ways to prevent it</h2>&nbsp;Preventing chikungunya largely depends on reducing exposure to mosquito bites and eliminating breeding sites. Health experts recommend using mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or eucalyptus oil on exposed skin, especially during early morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, trousers, and covered footwear can further limit bites. At home, installing mosquito screens on windows and doors helps keep mosquitoes out. Crucially, stagnant water in flower pots, buckets, coolers, and drains must be emptied regularly to prevent mosquito breeding. Community action combined with personal vigilance is key to controlling the spread of chikungunya and reducing the risk of outbreaks.&nbsp;Despite rising malaria and chikungunya cases this year, dengue infections have declined compared to 2024. Health experts continue to stress prevention, from using mosquito repellents and protective clothing to removing stagnant water, as key to controlling outbreaks and avoiding long-term complications linked to chikungunya.&nbsp;

Chikungunya, first identified in Tanzania in 1952, is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same genus that spreads dengue and Zika viruses. 

China is grappling with its worst chikungunya outbreak since the virus was first detected there nearly two decades ago. According to national broadcaster CCTV, over 3,100 cases have been reported in July alone, concentrated in Foshan city in the southern province of Guangdong. The region’s hot and humid climate creates ideal conditions for mosquito breeding, fuelling the rapid spread of the disease. Chikungunya, first identified in Tanzania in 1952, is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same genus that spreads dengue and Zika viruses. In response to the rising threat, local authorities in Guangdong have stepped up anti-mosquito measures, urging residents to remove stagnant water from flower pots, containers and drains to reduce breeding sites. Symptoms and long-term impact Chikungunya infection typically leads to high fever, severe joint pain, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue. While most patients recover within days, some may continue to suffer from joint pain and stiffness for months or even years, particularly older adults or those with underlying health conditions. The WHO notes that this prolonged discomfort can resemble arthritis and significantly affect daily life. In China, the outbreak is part of a broader global trend. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported over 2,20,000 chikungunya cases and 80 deaths in 14 countries this year. Even France and Italy have documented locally acquired cases, underscoring the disease’s expanding reach amid climate change and increased international travel. How Mumbai is responding amid rising risk Closer to home, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified efforts to curb mosquito-borne diseases following early monsoon rains. Byculla and Parel have emerged as major hotspots, prompting insecticide squads to destroy thousands of breeding sites daily. Over the past year, the BMC has eliminated around 17,500 Anopheles (malaria-spreading) and 82,000 Aedes (dengue- and chikungunya-spreading) mosquito sites. Ways to prevent it Preventing chikungunya largely depends on reducing exposure to mosquito bites and eliminating breeding sites. Health experts recommend using mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or eucalyptus oil on exposed skin, especially during early morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, trousers, and covered footwear can further limit bites. At home, installing mosquito screens on windows and doors helps keep mosquitoes out. Crucially, stagnant water in flower pots, buckets, coolers, and drains must be emptied regularly to prevent mosquito breeding. Community action combined with personal vigilance is key to controlling the spread of chikungunya and reducing the risk of outbreaks. Despite rising malaria and chikungunya cases this year, dengue infections have declined compared to 2024. Health experts continue to stress prevention, from using mosquito repellents and protective clothing to removing stagnant water, as key to controlling outbreaks and avoiding long-term complications linked to chikungunya.

Chikungunya, first identified in Tanzania in 1952, is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same genus that spreads dengue and Zika viruses.&nbsp;

What is Chikungunya? China hit by worst outbreak in 20 years! Key symptoms and what you should know

Apple supplier Foxconn has suspended its operations in tech hub Shenzhen city following lockdown as China experiences probably one of its worst Covid outbreak since the pandemic first broke out.

The decision to halt production is likely to hit Apple which recently announced a spate of products, including the iPhone, MacBook Air, etc.

"The operation of Foxconn in Shenzhen, China has been suspended from March 14 onwards in compliance with the local government's new COVID-19 policy," the Taiwanese company said in a statement.

The sporadic rise of Covid cases has caught the officials off-guard as many cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, are battling outbreaks liked to Omircon, which is currently raving neighbouring Hong Kong.

Mainland China reported 1,337 new domestically transmitted Covid cases with confirmed symptoms on March 13, the National Health Commission said on Monday.

Around 17 million residents in southern Shenzen city are under lockdown and have been told to stay at home.

The lockdown and a suspension of public transport are expected to last till March 20, a city government notice said, adding that it would launch three rounds of mass testing.

In Shanghai, several schools have been shut as 18 provinces battle clusters of the Omicron and Delta variants.

A disease expert in Beijing has noted that most infections in Hong Kong and the mainland are due to the Omicron BA.2 variant which is “spreading very fast this time”.

Zhang Wenhong pointed out that vaccination could not prevent breakthrough infections, but has brought the rate of severe illnesses and deaths lower than the flu.

“It is still not time for China to lie flat. We should have more clearer methods for the future rather than debating over zero-COVID or co-existence. If China reopens quickly at this time, new cases would surge in a short time. The domestic medical system would be overloaded and the society grind to a halt, causing irreparable damages,” Global Times quoted Zhang as saying.

Watch |&nbsp;China locks down tech hub Shenzen; Curbs imposed in Shanghai,other major cities

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-locks-down-tech-hub-shenzen-curbs-imposed-in-shanghai-other-major-cities-462104/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

Apple supplier Foxconn has suspended its operations in tech hub Shenzhen city following lockdown as China experiences probably one of its worst Covid outbreak since the pandemic first broke out.

Apple supplier Foxconn has suspended its operations in tech hub Shenzhen city following lockdown as China experiences probably one of its worst Covid outbreak since the pandemic first broke out. The decision to halt production is likely to hit Apple which recently announced a spate of products, including the iPhone, MacBook Air, etc. "The operation of Foxconn in Shenzhen, China has been suspended from March 14 onwards in compliance with the local government's new COVID-19 policy," the Taiwanese company said in a statement. The sporadic rise of Covid cases has caught the officials off-guard as many cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, are battling outbreaks liked to Omircon, which is currently raving neighbouring Hong Kong. Mainland China reported 1,337 new domestically transmitted Covid cases with confirmed symptoms on March 13, the National Health Commission said on Monday. Around 17 million residents in southern Shenzen city are under lockdown and have been told to stay at home. The lockdown and a suspension of public transport are expected to last till March 20, a city government notice said, adding that it would launch three rounds of mass testing. In Shanghai, several schools have been shut as 18 provinces battle clusters of the Omicron and Delta variants. A disease expert in Beijing has noted that most infections in Hong Kong and the mainland are due to the Omicron BA.2 variant which is “spreading very fast this time”. Zhang Wenhong pointed out that vaccination could not prevent breakthrough infections, but has brought the rate of severe illnesses and deaths lower than the flu. “It is still not time for China to lie flat. We should have more clearer methods for the future rather than debating over zero-COVID or co-existence. If China reopens quickly at this time, new cases would surge in a short time. The domestic medical system would be overloaded and the society grind to a halt, causing irreparable damages,” Global Times quoted Zhang as saying. Watch | China locks down tech hub Shenzen; Curbs imposed in Shanghai,other major cities (With inputs from agencies)

Apple products to get delayed as Foxconn stops ops amidst China’s worst Covid outbreak

Asian markets were mixed Monday following last week's gains with investors keeping a worried eye on a fresh Covid outbreak in China that could drag on the already stuttering economy.

Long-running worries about inflation continued to cast a shadow over trading floors, though a healthy batch of earnings have tempered those concerns in the past couple of weeks.

Reporting by tech titans including Amazon, Apple, Samsung and Microsoft are on the agenda this week, and will be closely followed for an idea about what impact supply chain snarls and rising prices is having on their bottom lines.

Their forward guidance will also be of interest as they contemplate tighter central bank monetary policies and a possible hike in interest rates next year. Tech firms are usually more susceptible to higher borrowing costs.

News that troubled China Evergrande had paid interest due on a bond before Saturday's deadline provided a much-needed boost to confidence though it remains to be seen whether it can meet obligations on other notes due before the end of the year.

Hong Kong and Shanghai fluctuated through the early session, with traders keeping tabs on the latest Delta variant outbreak in mainland China, which comes just over three months before the country hosts the Winter Olympics.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hong-kong-stock-exchange-halts-trading-of-evergrande-shares-418036">Hong Kong Stock Exchange halts trading of Evergrande shares</a>

The latest spike has forced authorities to reimpose strict containment measures, but there are fears of a wider lockdown which would weigh on economic growth. Recent outbreaks this year played a role in the below-par expansion seen in the third quarter.

There were gains in Sydney, Seoul and Jakarta but Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei and Manila fell.

Traders are preparing for the Federal Reserve to join several other central banks around the world in winding down the massive financial support put in place at the outset of the pandemic.

Boss Jerome Powell said last week that the bank's vast bond-buying should now be tapered, with expectations he will begin the pullback as early as next month, though he was not ready to hike borrowing costs yet.

"The risks are clearly now to longer and more persistent bottlenecks, and thus to higher inflation," he said Friday.

"I would say our policy is well-positioned to manage a range of plausible outcomes," he said. "I do think it's time to taper and I don't think it's time to raise rates."

Oil prices pressed higher, with Brent at a three-year high above $86, while WTI was within sight of $85 for the first time since October 2014.

The latest rise comes after Saudi Arabia said OPEC and other major producers would be cautious in lifting output despite surging demand, warning that the pandemic still posed a threat to the outlook.

The Turkish lira tumbled more than one percent against the dollar after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the expulsion of ambassadors from 10 countries, including Germany and the United States, who had appealed for the release of a jailed civil society leader.

Key figures around 0230 GMT&nbsp;

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0 percent at 28,520.35 (break)&nbsp;

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 26,121.47

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,584.05

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1645 from $1.1648 at 2050 GMT on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3771 from $1.3759

Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.56 pence from 84.70 pence&nbsp;

Dollar/yen: UP at 113.70 from 113.46 yen

West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.0 percent at $84.59 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.8 percent at $86.17 per barrel&nbsp;

New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 35,677.02 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 7,204.55 (close)

Asian markets were mixed Monday following last week's gains with investors keeping a worried eye on a fresh Covid outbreak in China that could drag on the already stuttering economy.

Asian markets were mixed Monday following last week's gains with investors keeping a worried eye on a fresh Covid outbreak in China that could drag on the already stuttering economy. Long-running worries about inflation continued to cast a shadow over trading floors, though a healthy batch of earnings have tempered those concerns in the past couple of weeks. Reporting by tech titans including Amazon, Apple, Samsung and Microsoft are on the agenda this week, and will be closely followed for an idea about what impact supply chain snarls and rising prices is having on their bottom lines. Their forward guidance will also be of interest as they contemplate tighter central bank monetary policies and a possible hike in interest rates next year. Tech firms are usually more susceptible to higher borrowing costs. News that troubled China Evergrande had paid interest due on a bond before Saturday's deadline provided a much-needed boost to confidence though it remains to be seen whether it can meet obligations on other notes due before the end of the year. Hong Kong and Shanghai fluctuated through the early session, with traders keeping tabs on the latest Delta variant outbreak in mainland China, which comes just over three months before the country hosts the Winter Olympics. Also Read | Hong Kong Stock Exchange halts trading of Evergrande shares The latest spike has forced authorities to reimpose strict containment measures, but there are fears of a wider lockdown which would weigh on economic growth. Recent outbreaks this year played a role in the below-par expansion seen in the third quarter. There were gains in Sydney, Seoul and Jakarta but Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei and Manila fell. Traders are preparing for the Federal Reserve to join several other central banks around the world in winding down the massive financial support put in place at the outset of the pandemic. Boss Jerome Powell said last week that the bank's vast bond-buying should now be tapered, with expectations he will begin the pullback as early as next month, though he was not ready to hike borrowing costs yet. "The risks are clearly now to longer and more persistent bottlenecks, and thus to higher inflation," he said Friday. "I would say our policy is well-positioned to manage a range of plausible outcomes," he said. "I do think it's time to taper and I don't think it's time to raise rates." Oil prices pressed higher, with Brent at a three-year high above $86, while WTI was within sight of $85 for the first time since October 2014. The latest rise comes after Saudi Arabia said OPEC and other major producers would be cautious in lifting output despite surging demand, warning that the pandemic still posed a threat to the outlook. The Turkish lira tumbled more than one percent against the dollar after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the expulsion of ambassadors from 10 countries, including Germany and the United States, who had appealed for the release of a jailed civil society leader. Key figures around 0230 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0 percent at 28,520.35 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 26,121.47 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,584.05 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1645 from $1.1648 at 2050 GMT on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3771 from $1.3759 Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.56 pence from 84.70 pence Dollar/yen: UP at 113.70 from 113.46 yen West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.0 percent at $84.59 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.8 percent at $86.17 per barrel New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 35,677.02 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 7,204.55 (close)

Asian markets swing as traders eye China outbreak, inflation

Officials in Harbin, northeast China, say national-level health officials have been dispatched to the city to deal with what appears to be a coronavirus outbreak.

The city of 9.5 million people reported three infection cases Wednesday, a day after discovering the first case of community transmission.

After the initial finding, authorities started mass testing and closed schools.

The city also ordered businesses like mahjong parlours, cinemas and gyms to shut.

City authorities say residents must display a negative virus test to be able to leave for only essential travel.

Otherwise, people are being told to stay home.

China has been able to keep the virus from transmitting widely within its borders through a costly and strict strategy that relies on lockdowns and mass testing.

Officials in Harbin, northeast China, say national-level health officials have been dispatched to the city to deal with what appears to be a coronavirus outbreak.

Officials in Harbin, northeast China, say national-level health officials have been dispatched to the city to deal with what appears to be a coronavirus outbreak. The city of 9.5 million people reported three infection cases Wednesday, a day after discovering the first case of community transmission. After the initial finding, authorities started mass testing and closed schools. The city also ordered businesses like mahjong parlours, cinemas and gyms to shut. City authorities say residents must display a negative virus test to be able to leave for only essential travel. Otherwise, people are being told to stay home. China has been able to keep the virus from transmitting widely within its borders through a costly and strict strategy that relies on lockdowns and mass testing.

Chinese city shuts down over COVID outbreak worry after three new cases found

More than 11 million people in the northern Chinese city of Shijiazhuang have been placed into a stringent lockdown after an outbreak of Covid-19.

China places 11 mn people under lockdown as Shijazhuang witnesses dramatic rise in Covid cases

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What is Chikungunya? China hit by worst outbreak in 20 years! Key symptoms and what you should know

Apple products to get delayed as Foxconn stops ops amidst China’s worst Covid outbreak

Asian markets swing as traders eye China outbreak, inflation

Chinese city shuts down over COVID outbreak worry after three new cases found

China places 11 mn people under lockdown as Shijazhuang witnesses dramatic rise in Covid cases