Chikungunya mosquito bites are circulating in many localities.

(Dan Tri) - Mr. Vo Hai Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention and Control, said that Aedes mosquitoes transmitting Chikungunya are circulating in many localities in our country, with a high risk of the disease entering and spreading to the community.

Risk of Chikungunya disease entering our country ?

Explaining the increase in Chikungunya cases in many countries, Mr. Vo Hai Son said that this is the rainy season in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere, creating an ideal environment for mosquitoes to develop, leading to an increase in mosquito density and rapid spread of the virus.

At the same time, increased travel between countries in the summer also creates favorable conditions for the disease to spread to other regions, localities and countries.

Chikungunya-transmitting mosquitoes bite mainly during the day, with peak activity in the early morning and late afternoon (Photo: WHO).

Domestically, the infectious disease surveillance system has not recorded any cases of Chikungunya from any locality. However, the epidemic is increasing in some countries in the region, especially China.

“Meanwhile, the Aedes mosquito that transmits the disease has been circulating in many localities in our country. Therefore, the risk of the disease entering Vietnam through immigrants carrying the disease and spreading to the community is very high,” Mr. Son said.

The Ministry of Health is working closely with WHO to update effective monitoring and treatment measures for Chikungunya disease, and promptly deploy appropriate prevention and control solutions in Vietnam.

Symptoms of Chikungunya

According to Mr. Son, Chikungunya is an infectious disease caused by the Chikungunya virus, which is not transmitted directly from person to person but through the Aedes mosquito (the same type of mosquito that transmits dengue fever). Mosquitoes mainly bite during the day and can reach their peak activity in the early morning and late afternoon.

Symptoms usually appear 4 to 8 days (range 2–12 days) after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The disease is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, often accompanied by severe joint pain.

Other common signs include joint stiffness, arthritis, headaches, fatigue, and rashes. Symptoms are similar to dengue fever, but chikungunya often causes more obvious joint pain and swelling, while dengue fever is more often accompanied by bleeding.

People should not self-diagnose or treat themselves at home. When there are signs of suspicion, they should immediately go to the nearest medical facility for timely consultation, examination and treatment.

What to do to prevent disease ?

To proactively prevent and control Chikungunya disease, the Ministry of Health strongly recommends that people take the following preventive measures.

People returning from countries and regions where Chikungunya disease is increasing :

- Need to actively monitor health within 12 days.

- If there are any unusual signs of health (such as fever, joint pain, rash...) go to a medical facility immediately for examination, consultation and timely treatment.

People in households and residential areas need to properly implement the following contents :

- Cover all water containers tightly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

- Weekly, take measures to kill larvae and mosquito larvae by releasing fish into large water containers; washing medium and small water containers, turning over containers that do not contain water; changing the water in flower vases; adding salt or oil or larvicidal chemicals to the bowl of water placed under the cupboard.

- Weekly remove waste materials and natural water holes that do not allow mosquitoes to lay eggs such as bottles, jars, broken glass pieces, coconut shells, broken jars, tires, old tires, bamboo holes, leaf sheaths...

- Sleep under mosquito nets and wear long clothes to prevent mosquito bites even during the day.

- Actively coordinate with the health sector in chemical spraying campaigns to prevent and control epidemics.

- When you have a fever, go to a medical facility immediately for examination and treatment advice. Do not self-treat at home.

People traveling or working in areas where Chikungunya is on the rise should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Actively monitor your health and notify health authorities if you have symptoms similar to Chikungunya.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/muoi-dot-truyen-benh-chikungunya-luu-hanh-tai-nhieu-dia-phuong-20250810224629629.htm