Despite successful containment, the Foshan outbreak demonstrates that post-epidemic vigilance remains critical, particularly in the context of imported-case risk and Aedes-driven seasonal resurgence, and the potential for geographic spread to surrounding municipalities. The observed case distribution pattern suggests an outward diffusion tendency within the province, highlighting the need for heightened prevention and control in adjacent Class I risk regions and neighboring provinces with high ecological suitability for Aedes proliferation. The WHO July 22 global alert [6], coupled with the forecast of continued high mosquito activity in Guangdong, further underscores the importance of post-epidemic vigilance, continued surveillance, and sustained community participation in vector control to prevent secondary transmission or reintroduction events.

In the short term, several actionable recommendations emerge. First, case detection and activation mechanisms should be strengthened by refining thresholds, tightening reporting timelines, and ensuring that local CDC alerts promptly trigger risk communication and early interventions. Emergency response capacity must be reinforced through clear protocols and regular readiness verification [7]. A unified, tiered national response guideline—detailing activation thresholds, reporting timeframes, inter-agency command hierarchies, and logistics pipelines down to township and community levels—should be codified and operationalized. Second, the existing sentinel surveillance network should be optimized by extending its coverage to peri-urban and semi-rural high-risk areas, with deployment of automated oviposition traps and integration of rapid viral testing of both mosquito pools and human samples to shorten the detection-to-response interval. Third, community-based interventions remain the cornerstone of epidemic control. The Patriotic Health Campaign should be institutionalized as a routine, pre-seasonal activity, with consistent messaging and mobilization of residents for source reduction. Annual multi-agency tabletop exercises and simulation drills could also help stress-test outbreak response protocols, ensuring that rapid response teams remain trained, resourced, and ready for deployment at the first sign of transmission, especially for arboviruses with seasonal potential such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika.

Beyond these immediate priorities, several strategic and long-term objectives should be pursued to strengthen systemic resilience. A top priority is to develop a multi-source, data-driven early warning system for vector-borne diseases [8], fully incorporating the One Health framework and operationalizing the WHO’s Global Vector Control Response 2017–2030. Such a platform would integrate global arboviral epidemiology data, cross-border mobility analytics, high-resolution meteorological and climate forecasts, entomological indices, and localized sero-immunity profiling to generate a comprehensive risk picture. Coupled with AI-assisted analytics, this system could support near real-time outbreak prediction, scenario modeling, and evidence-based decision-making, allowing public health authorities to intervene earlier and more precisely.

Another priority is establishing an operational cross-border intelligence network, particularly with Southeast Asia, where the risk of vector-borne disease importation is high. Strengthening international and cross-border collaboration is essential, not only to harmonize case definitions, diagnostic platforms, control standards, and vector surveillance protocols, but also to establish a joint early warning and feedback mechanism modeled on existing influenza and poliomyelitis surveillance networks. Building on this, regional capacity-building initiatives could focus on establishing centers of excellence for vector-borne disease research, standardized training for clinicians and entomologists, and joint international exercises to strengthen preparedness. Real-time data-sharing platforms and international exchange programs would further promote globally coordinated response capabilities.

In the longer term, sustained investment in research and innovation will be critical [7, 9]. Priorities include accelerated phase II/III trials of candidate vaccines, real-world effectiveness evaluations, and development of targeted immunization strategies for high-incidence districts. Establishing a national genomic surveillance database for vector-borne viruses would enable real-time monitoring of viral evolution, phylogeographic spread, and resistance-linked genomic markers [10]. Such a database would directly inform vaccine strain selection, vector control strategies, and risk communication. Therapeutic research should focus on antiviral treatments, refining symptomatic care protocols, and managing post-viral sequelae such as chronic arthralgia. Finally, technological innovation in vector control should advance toward intelligence and precision by expanding electronic sentinel networks, deploying AI-assisted smart traps, leveraging Wolbachia-based biocontrol, scaling UAV-based adulticide dispersal, and implementing sterile insect technique (SIT) programs to improve efficiency and reduce labor dependence.

Together, these short-term actions and long-term strategies provide a comprehensive framework to enhance early detection, accelerate response, and build durable resilience against arboviral threats.