A sudden outbreak of a mosquito-borne virus has swept through southern China after the World Health Organisation (WHO) sounded the alarm over the disease.

More than 7,000 people have been infected with Chikungunya virus, the BBC reports. Chinese authorities have said "local outbreaks" have resulted from "imported cases" of the virus in July, with Foshan city in the central Guangdong Province hit hardest.

Another 12 cities in the Guangdong province have reported infections, with nearly 3,000 cases reported in the last week alone.

Chikungunya virus causes symptoms similar to those of other tropical diseases like dengue fever and Zika. These include fever, debilitating joint pain and joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

Most people recover but the virus c

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