Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Since China's first imported Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) case in 2008, 16 provinces have reported cases, primarily imported from endemic areas in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Most of China, including Anhui Province, is non-endemic; Anhui had no cases prior to August 2025. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This report documents the first laboratory-confirmed imported case of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in Anhui Province and presents the complete viral genome sequence. Comprehensive clinical documentation characterizes the patient's symptoms in detail, including fever, arthralgia, and cutaneous manifestations, thereby addressing a critical gap in the regional clinical profile of CHIKV infection. Comparative analysis of real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) results demonstrated that nucleic acid testing provides superior sensitivity during the acute phase of infection. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? This case underscores China's escalating CHIKF risk. Key implications are: 1) Establishing a cross-regional surveillance network is vital for enhanced case and vector detection sensitivity; 2) In non-endemic areas, strengthening public health education on CHIKV risks is essential for imported disease control. Effectively reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases requires strengthened international cooperation, multi-sectoral collaboration, and innovative technologies.