Chikungunya battle requires long-term vigilance, say experts

Personal safety

Duan urged affected regions to accelerate mosquito elimination efforts and advised individuals to take protective measures, such as using insect repellents, installing window nets and utilizing other anti-mosquito products.

A villager in Foshan's Xincun village, surnamed Deng, said that he had stocked up on mosquito coils and mosquito-killing spray. He was recently discharged from the hospital after contracting the virus last month, probably when fishing outdoors, he said.

"I now prioritize mosquito prevention at home — my drawers are full of anti-mosquito products, and I ensure there is no stagnant water," he said.

Another villager surnamed Tao said that he places mosquito coils in every room of his home to protect his family members. Electric mosquito swatters and mosquito-repellent sprays are also among his everyday weapons.

A local supermarket reported that sales of mosquito-control products have more than doubled in recent weeks.

Across Guangdong, the online search volume for mosquito repellents during the week starting July 18 surged by 160 percent compared with the previous week, with sales rising by 33 percent, according to data from the online shopping and delivery platform Meituan.

Huang Hanxian, Party secretary of Xincun village, said authorities now regularly distribute mosquito repellents to residents.

"The best times to light coils are mornings and evenings when mosquitoes are most active," he said. "For instance, at 6 pm each evening, households are called on to light coils while a disinfection team comprising about 30 members will be carrying out work outdoors simultaneously."

Liu, from China CDC, applauded the approach.

"When outdoor mosquito control operations are carried out, mosquitoes that have not been killed may escape into houses," he said. "So coordinating the use of mosquito coils indoors and implementing outdoor disinfection can enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control."

He Chunyun, an urban management official in Foshan, stressed paying close attention to detail during cleanups of hot spots prone to mosquito breeding.

"It is important to carry out a thorough removal of garbage and debris, and pay close attention to overlooked items like bottles, flowerpot trays and discarded tires," he said.

In the provincial capital, Guangzhou, unmanned aerial vehicles have been deployed to monitor mosquito breeding grounds, disinfect public spaces and repel mosquitoes. The city has reported dozens of infections since early July.

At the city's Tianlu Lake forest park, complex terrain, dense vegetation and hordes of visitors drawn to its hiking routes and entertainment facilities have made it difficult to undertake manual disinfection.

"A single drone can cover 15 to 20 times the daily operational area of manual disinfection and it is also capable of reaching difficult-to-access areas," said the drone operators. "Our intelligent path planning also minimizes chemical exposure, ensuring visitor safety."