As rising temperatures and seasonal rains fuel a surge in disease-carrying mosquitoes in China, local governments are stepping up mosquito-control measures to prevent dengue and chikungunya outbreaks. Experts warn that even mild symptoms should not be taken lightly.

In a notice released on Tuesday, authorities in Maoming, Guangdong province, urged residents to clear stagnant water, avoid mosquito bites and seek quick medical attention if they develop fever or joint pain. The notice said the black-and-white striped mosquito is the primary vector for dengue and chikungunya, two viral diseases.

Transmission occurs only through the bite of an infected mosquito. The insect is active during the day, with peak activity occurring one to two hours before and after sunrise and two to three hours before sunset, according to the notice.

The mosquitoes require very little water to breed, laying eggs in small amounts of clean, stagnant water, such as that found in vases and plant trays. Adult mosquitoes tend to hide in dark, damp and cluttered places.

"The most fundamental and effective measure is to eliminate breeding sites," the notice said. "Even an amount of water as small as a bottle cap can serve as a breeding ground. Residents should regularly inspect and eliminate standing water around the home, empty containers and scrub their inner walls."

The notice also advised residents to use window screens and bed nets indoors. In air-conditioned rooms, electric repellents can be used. When outdoors during periods of peak mosquito activity, people should wear light-colored long sleeves and apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin.

Anyone who develops fever, rash or joint pain should seek medical attention promptly, the notice said. Patients should sleep under bed nets to avoid further spreading the virus through mosquito bites.

Beijing has launched a three-year plan to create mosquito-hazard-free zones across the city, beginning with six central districts and 13 municipal parks this year, according to a Beijing Evening News May 29 report.

By 2028, authorities aim to have 80 percent of the capital's communities, parks and public buildings certified as free from mosquito hazards.

Public health experts stressed that prevention alone is not enough.

"Some people wrongly assume that if dengue symptoms are mild, they can still go to work or school," Yuan Jun, deputy director of the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Guangdong, said in a China Central Television interview on May 28.

Yuan said patients are highly infectious during the first five days of dengue infection and for seven days after the onset of chikungunya. Those diagnosed with either disease should receive treatment in a hospital or at home while taking strict precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

"In a small number of dengue patients, particularly the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions, the disease can progress to severe bleeding, shock or multiple organ failure," he said. "Chikungunya is characterized by debilitating joint pain, which can last for months or even years in some patients, causing lasting damage."

Zhou Xiaojie, a researcher at the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, told CCTV that not everyone is equally attractive to mosquitoes.

People who exhale more carbon dioxide, including those who have recently exercised and those who are obese, are among the most attractive to mosquitoes. Those who sweat heavily, young people with faster metabolisms and people who consume sugary foods or beer are also more likely to be bitten.