Chinese health officials are responding to an outbreak of a mosquito-borne disease that can cause severe joint pain. More than 7,000 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the Chinese province of Guangdong in recent weeks,

China has become adept at coercive measures that many nations consider over-the-top since the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak. This time, patients are being forced to stay in hospital in Foshan for a minimum of one week, and authorities briefly enforced a two-week home quarantine, which was dropped since the disease cannot be transmitted between people.

Chinese authorities have taken measures this week to try to curb the spread of chikungunya, a virus that often causes fever and joint pain. Here’s what to know about it.