The Chinese government has reported over 7,000 cases of a newly spreading virus known as Chikungunya, which is currently causing concern across the country.

According to the BBC, the virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms include headache, rash, fever, and severe joint pain, among others.

Although most people recover within a week, health experts warn that joint pain may persist for up to seven years in some cases.

The virus has now been reported in over 110 countries worldwide, and was first identified in Tanzania in 1952.

Health officials are advising the public to take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially in areas with stagnant water, where mosquitoes are more likely to breed.

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