BEIJING — The southern Chinese city of Jiangmen has reported more than 1,700 cases of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral illness, prompting authorities to declare a public health emergency, state media said Saturday.

Officials in Jiangmen, located in Guangdong Province, confirmed 1,714 infections as of Friday, triggering a Level III emergency response.

At a press conference Saturday, health authorities said all the reported cases were mild, with no severe or fatal infections recorded.

Chikungunya fever is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, with symptoms typically including fever and joint pain.

While the disease is rarely fatal, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks of complications.

The outbreak has raised concerns in southern China, where warm and humid conditions are favorable to mosquito breeding.

Authorities said measures are being stepped up to control mosquito populations and prevent further spread. — Agencies