Taipei: A woman in her 40s has been confirmed as Taiwan’s first case of chikungunya fever imported from China in 2025, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Thursday. The woman had traveled to Guangdong Province’s Foshan and Shenzhen in mid-July and returned to Taiwan on July 30. She developed symptoms, including a fever, the following day and was hospitalized on August 1 with rashes and pain in her limbs and ankles.

According to Focus Taiwan, the woman had been aware of chikungunya fever travel warnings during her return flight and reported her travel history and mosquito bites when seeking medical treatment. She subsequently tested positive for chikungunya fever, as confirmed by the CDC. The woman was discharged after four days of treatment and will continue to be monitored until August 26.

Local health authorities have conducted a vector mosquito density investigation and taken measures such as mosquito breeding source elimination and chemical pest control around the woman’s residence, as reported by the CDC.

The CDC has raised its travel alert for Guangdong Province to Level 2 due to a surge in chikungunya cases, with 2,892 new cases reported in the region from July 27 to August 2. The CDC’s travel advisory includes three levels: Level 1 “Watch,” Level 2 “Alert,” and Level 3 “Warning.”

As of August 6, Taiwan has reported a total of 17 confirmed chikungunya cases in 2025, marking the highest number in six years. All cases were imported, with 13 from Indonesia, two from the Philippines, and one each from Sri Lanka and China.

The CDC emphasized the importance of taking precautions against mosquito bites when traveling to areas with chikungunya outbreaks, recommending the use of light-colored clothing and approved mosquito repellents.