Chikungunya is spreading rapidly in Guangdong, a southern province of China.
According to local authorities, over 7,000 cases have been reported in just one month.
Chinese officials have started taking strict measures to control the outbreak, including spraying insecticide using drones in affected areas to kill mosquitoes.
Authorities have ordered the removal of containers from open areas that may hold stagnant water, which can serve as mosquito breeding grounds.
Health officials have advised citizens to take precautions against mosquitoes and to immediately visit the nearest hospital if they notice any suspicious symptoms.
According to health experts, chikungunya periodically spreads in Asia, Africa, and South America, but this is the first time it is spreading so rapidly in China.
What is chikungunya and what are the symptoms?
Although rare in China, chikungunya virus outbreaks are common in South and South East Asia and parts of Africa.
Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will develop symptoms of chikungunya within three to seven days.
Apart from fever and joint pain, other symptoms include rash, headache, muscle pain and swollen joints.
In most cases, patients will feel better within a week. In severe cases however, the joint pain can last for months or even years.
Those at risk for more severe disease include newborn babies, the elderly, and people with underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes.
There is no cure, but deaths from chikungunya are rare.
