The outbreak, response, and reflections on the chikungunya fever epidemic in Foshan City, China

Driven by climate change, viral evolution, intensified human mobility, and increasing population susceptibility, mosquito-borne diseases are extending their geographic range and public health impact worldwide. The 2025 chikungunya outbreak in Foshan, Guangdong Province, provided a critical real-world assessment of the province's local surveillance and emergency response system. This commentary aims to elucidate the effectiveness, strengths, and limitations of Foshan's outbreak response, and to identify lessons for strengthening early warning and vector-borne disease preparedness. Containment was achieved within three weeks through coordinated multi-sectoral emergency activation, rapid case detection, and precision vector control. However, the response also exposed systemic vulnerabilities, including delayed activation of warning mechanisms, limitations in entomological surveillance, and deficiencies in multi-source data integration. Addressing these gaps will require establishing a multi-source, data-driven early warning system; institutionalizing standardized cross-border surveillance and response protocols; expanding genomic and epidemiological research capacity; and strengthening research capacities and workforce resources from a global perspective to enhance global preparedness against emerging mosquito-borne diseases.