He was found to have a fever when he passed through the screening station at the airport and further tests confirmed that he had been infected with chikungunya fever. His condition improved after treatment, the officials added.

Lin Hsueh-jung, health chief of Taoyuan County, said the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted to humans through the bite of the aedes mosquito and causes an illness with symptoms similar to those of dengue fever. The acute febrile phase of the illness lasts only two to five days, but the pain associated with CHIKV infection of the joints persists for weeks or months.