November 17,2025
RED FM News Desk
The federal government has updated its travel advisory for China, citing an increased risk of chikungunya for travellers.
The Public Health Agency of Canada issued the notice, now posted on the government’s travel website, rating the chikungunya risk in China—especially in Guangdong province—at Level 2, which urges travellers to “practice enhanced health precautions.”
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus. Symptoms often include fever, rash, severe joint pain, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
The notice advises travellers to “avoid mosquito bites at all times,” noting that the mosquitoes carrying the virus are active both day and night.
Recommended precautions include using insect repellent, wearing long, light-coloured clothing, and sleeping under mosquito nets if accommodations are not well sealed.
The advisory also notes that a chikungunya vaccine is available in Canada. Travellers—especially those who are pregnant or over 65—are encouraged to speak with a health-care provider about vaccination before departure.
“Symptoms of chikungunya can resemble many other infections, and lab tests are often needed to confirm diagnosis,” the notice says.
Those returning from travel are urged to monitor their health and seek medical attention if symptoms appear during or after their trip.
The notice also highlights that mosquito-borne illnesses are rising globally. In Cuba, a surge in diseases such as dengue and chikungunya has affected nearly one-third of the population in recent weeks. In Canada, human cases of West Nile virus were reported this summer in Windsor-Essex, Hamilton, and Ottawa.
In July, the World Health Organization called for urgent action to prevent a repeat of the chikungunya epidemic that spread worldwide two decades ago, as new outbreaks emerging near the Indian Ocean have expanded into Europe and the Americas.
Loading ...
