From July 20 to July 26, a total of 2,940 local Chikungunya fever cases were reported across Guangdong, with no severe or fatal cases noted, according to an announcement released by the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control on July 27.
The cases were distributed as follows: 2,882 in Foshan, 22 in Guangzhou, 18 in Zhongshan, and 3 each in Dongguan, Zhuhai, and Heyuan. There were 2 each in Jiangmen, Yangjiang, and Zhaoqing, and 1 each in Qingyuan, Shenzhen, and Zhanjiang.
As of July 26, a cumulative total of 4,824 cases of Chikungunya fever have been reported in the province for the year, all of which were mild, with no reports of severe or fatal cases. Currently, 3,224 patients have been cured and discharged from hospitals or released from medical observation.
Guangzhou Metro carry-on regulations: capacity limits for mosquito repellent spray
Given the escalating risks of mosquito-borne diseases, the demand for mosquito repellents during travel has significantly increased. In response to public inquiries about whether repellent products can be carried on the subway, Guangzhou Metro issued detailed guidelines on July 27. The following are the specific requirements:
✦ Non-spray chemical mosquito repellents (e.g., electric mosquito repellent liquid, mosquito coils) can be carried without restrictions.
✦ Spray-type mosquito repellents (e.g., floral water, mosquito repellent spray) must meet these conditions:
Single bottle ≤ 700ml (as indicated on the original packaging).
Maximum of 5 bottles per person.
✦ Physical mosquito prevention tools like mosquito nets and electric mosquito swatters can be carried normally (mosquito nets whose combined length, width, and height are less than 1.8 meters).
How to choose mosquito repellents?
According to Professor Lin Bingliang, Director of Infectious Diseases at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, the duration of protection offered by repellents is directly related to the concentration of DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide).
Based on the field efficacy of four common DEET-based formulations, the average protection times are as follows:
✦ 7.5% DEET mosquito-repellent lotion: 45 minutes
✦ 15% DEET mosquito-repellent emulsion: 63 minutes
✦ 15% DEET mosquito-repellent liquid: 91 minutes
✦ 5% DEET mosquito-repellent toilet water (or floral water): 34 minutes
Lin recommends spraying DEET-based mosquito repellent liquid on clothing and exposed skin, suggesting a concentration of 15% for general use. For children, a concentration of 10%-15% is advised, while DEET products should not be used on infants under 6 months old.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia, Luo Shuxin (intern)
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
