A "nasty" disease which can cause pain for years is seeing a "worrying" rise, health experts warn.

The chikungunya virus is spread by mosquito bites and can cause fever and joint pain.

It has been spreading in southern China, with UK health authorities also reporting a surge in cases in the UK compared to last year.

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Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne infection linked to international travel, with symptoms including joint pain, swelling, muscle pain, nausea, a rash and fatigue.

These symptoms can frequently be misdiagnosed due to their resemblance to Dengue and the Zika virus.

Recent reports suggest nearly 10,000 cases have been documented in China, with the cities of Foshan and Guangzhou severely

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