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Chinese city orders real-name registration for chikungunya fever medication amid outbreak
Foshan authorities implement new controls to track cases, while Fujian cities ask people returning from Guangdong to monitor symptoms
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Sylvie Zhuangin Beijing
The southern city of Foshan has required real-name registration for medication to treat chikungunya fever, while two cities in southeastern China have asked travellers returning from affected areas to monitor their health for signs of the mosquito-borne illness.
The market supervision bureau in Foshan, Guangdong province issued a public notice on Sunday asking all retail pharmacies to start real-name registration and to keep records when selling medications to treat symptoms of chikungunya, including fever, rashes and joint pain.
This practice was also used during the Covid-19 pandemic to help mainland Chinese authorities track potential cases that were not reported.
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Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. It cannot be contracted through direct contact with another person. While rarely fatal, the illness can lead to debilitating symptoms lasting weeks.
Those who buy the medications are required to provide their personal information and tell pharmacies about any recent mosquito bites or chikungunya symptoms, according to the notice.
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Some health authorities in Foshan have handed out administrative penalties for businesses that fail to promptly eliminate mosquito breeding sites, such as hotels and restaurants, according to state-run news site Southcn.com on Tuesday.
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