Chikungunya spike in China: what could it mean for Nepal?

As China’s Guangdong province reports over 7,000 chikungunya virus cases since July, public health experts in Nepal are quietly watching and worrying.

Though chikungunya is currently rare in Nepal, the growing regional risk raises urgent questions about the country’s preparedness against mosquito-borne diseases. The virus, which causes fever and long-lasting joint pain, has already surfaced in neighboring countries and thrives in similar tropical conditions.

A regional alert

The outbreak in southern China is concentrated in cities like Foshan, but with cases spilling into Hong Kong and possibly beyond, the alert is no longer local. Infected travelers, climate conditions, and rising mosquito populations could create a path for the virus to reach Nepal, especially during the monsoon season, when stagnant water becomes a breeding haven.

While chikungunya isn’t contagious from person to person, it spreads rapidly via mosquito bites making it a high-risk disease in countries with weak vector control systems.

Could it reach Nepal?

Nepal is already familiar with mosquito-borne illnesses. Dengue outbreaks have intensified in recent years, with over 50,000 reported cases in 2023 alone. The same Aedes mosquito that spreads dengue can also transmit chikungunya.

With Kathmandu Valley seeing warmer winters and longer wet seasons, the altitude-based mosquito barrier is breaking down. Cases of dengue have been recorded as high as 2,000 meters in elevation. Chikungunya could follow the same trajectory.

Dr. Anup Bastola, a leading infectious disease expert, told The Kirib, “Chikungunya is not far-fetched in Nepal anymore. If we’ve seen how dengue expanded geographically and seasonally, chikungunya has every condition to follow suit.”

What is Nepal doing?

So far, there’s been no national alert related to chikungunya. The Ministry of Health has yet to issue public guidance. Experts say that while the virus hasn’t taken hold in Nepal, waiting for the first case to act would be a mistake.

“Vector surveillance is minimal outside of dengue,” says entomologist Srijana Karki. “We aren’t testing mosquitoes for chikungunya, Zika, or other viruses. That leaves us blind.”

In contrast, China is deploying drones, larva-eating fish, and even genetically modified “elephant mosquitoes” to reduce mosquito populations. Nepal’s efforts remain limited to fogging and awareness drives during outbreaks.

What can Nepal learn?

The Guangdong outbreak shows how quickly a little-known virus can trigger large-scale containment measures. For Nepal, it’s an opportunity to act early before chikungunya becomes the next public health crisis.

Local governments could start by improving drainage, eliminating breeding spots, and launching public messaging on mosquito control year-round. Hospitals should begin testing for chikungunya in patients with fever and joint pain not just dengue.

Above all, experts emphasize regional coordination. “Diseases don’t need visas,” says Dr. Bastola. “China’s outbreak today could be South Asia’s problem tomorrow.”