Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya… Annual surveillance of tiger mosquitoes begins in mainland France

Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya… Annual surveillance of tiger mosquitoes begins in mainland France

Directorate General of Health (DGS) starts annual monitoring of tiger mosquito (aedes albopictus), a known vector of several infectious diseases such as dengue fever, Zika or chikungunya. This monitoring will continue till November.

Native to Southeast Asia,aedes albopictus For over thirty years it has been established in a large part of the United States, in Central America, in southern Brazil, but also in the Caribbean, in the Gulf of Guinea, and in southern Europe.

Present in 67 metropolitan departments

In mainland France, the first report was made in 2004 in the Alpes-Maritimes. Ale’aedes It has since progressed rapidly and is present in 67 of the 96 metropolitan departments, which include all of le-de-France, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Cte d’Azur, as well as almost the whole of New Aquitaine, Auvergne. make to. -Rhne-Alpes and Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

The DGS specifies that more than 40% of the municipalities affected by this invasion are in Corsica, in the departments of the Mediterranean, but also in Hauts-de-Seine. Aisne is now the northernmost section where the tiger mosquito has been sighted.

health professionals converge

Health officials remind health professionals that it is very important to report any case of dengue fever, chikungunya or Zika to their regional health agency (ARS). This reporting allows local authorities to quickly implement management measures around cases.

Thus, to avoid establishing a cycle of automatic transmission of these diseases, every human case identified is examined in a department where the tiger mosquito is established. If the mosquito is indeed present around the patient’s home, insecticide treatment can be done by mosquito control operators.

Overseas year-round active surveillance

In foreign departments (Guyana, Martinique and Guadeloupe), where the vector of these arboviruses isaedes aegyptiMonitoring is active throughout the year. Epidemiological data indicate a decrease in dengue epidemics on the island of Réunion and Mayotte, but authorities fear its arrival in mainland France. Via An infected passenger that will initiate a cycle of autochthonous transmission.

The purpose of surveillance is twofold: to slow the progress of tiger mosquito establishment in departments where it is not yet present and to limit the risk of import and circulation of the virus that may be a vector in mainland France. ,

map of france

recommendations for travelers

Health officials recommend that travelers to areas where chikungunya, dengue fever or Zika are present, protect themselves from mosquito bites, including during the day, and visit France’s diplomatic website and relevant regional health agencies (ARS) for foreign trips. ) consult the site. For traveling to foreign regions.

The tiger mosquito does not move much between its nesting site and “hunting area”, Therefore the residents of the concerned departments are advised to remove the accumulated water around their houses so that mosquitoes can breed.

The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) also put together a site online that lets you report the presence of tiger mosquitoes to health officials and find out if your municipality already has one. is colonized by mosquitoes aedes albopictus,

Regarding dengue fever in particular, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting the disease. There are now about 100 to 400 million infections each year, but more than 80% of these are usually mild and asymptomatic.

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