a report points to a major health risk

Potential vectors of diseases such as chikungunya, dengue or Zika, tiger mosquitoes have become a real scourge in the south of France. In 2019, they had colonized 58 departments out of 96 in total. A commission of inquiry spoke to the National Assembly on Tuesday. Its objective is to stem the proliferation of Aedes mosquitoes, of which the tiger mosquito is one.

At the end of its research, the commission, under the leadership of the deputy for Mayotte Ramlati Ali (LREM) presented 48 proposals. The tiger mosquito, recognizable thanks to its white stripes, represents a major health risk according to Ramlati Ali, especially in the overseas territories increasingly faced with epidemics spread by mosquitoes. “We are talking about tropical diseases, but the risks also exist in France. The Culex mosquito, for example, vector of the West Nile virus, is present in the metropolis,” explains Ramlati Ali. The implementation of actions to contain the proliferation of Aedes mosquitoes is difficult. “The larvae are resistant, they fear neither the heat nor the cold and develop very easily around the houses in the stagnant water of the flowerpots or the roofs”, explains the deputy. “As for the Covid-19, actions must above all be put in place by the population” she adds.

Raise awarness

For Ramlati Ali, the eradication of tiger mosquitoes is not possible. “You have to learn to live with it,” said the elected official. For her, the most effective way to limit its proliferation is to make the population and local authorities aware of them: “we must train and inform citizens. The State, through the ARS, must take part in prevention and The municipalities and mayors who are closer to the inhabitants must put them in place. A special contact person should be appointed in each municipality “. According to Ramlati Ali, local authorities are not sufficiently informed on the subject and do not really seek to fight against these insects. The treatment of infested areas is also not easy since the use of insecticides is not recommended. “All the specialists we have consulted are rather opposed to the use of insecticides against tiger mosquitoes. Today, the only product used is deltamethrin. These species have been able to adapt very quickly and develop resistance. spraying is not possible near homes “analyzes the deputy. The only solution to remedy this is to better fund scientific research. “We must support research. Often, efforts are too ad hoc. In overseas territories, viruses are not new but resurgent. However, we never seek to find a long-term solution” describes the elected representative of Mayotte .

Learn the lessons of Covid-19

Ramlata Ali is worried about the appearance of a new pandemic which would be transmissible by mosquitoes. “If we do nothing, we could see a viral pandemic appear in France due to mobility. This is why the proposals of the commission of inquiry are of a preventive nature. We must learn the lessons of the Covid-19 crisis, because once the virus is there, there is no treatment to deal with it “insists the elected LREM.

In Mayotte and Reunion, dengue is endemic. Overseas have had to deal with chikungunya and Zika virus before. In 2019, Public Health France identified more than 600 cases of dengue, 56 cases of chikungunya, and around ten cases of Zika in mainland France. The implications of an Aedes mosquito proliferation are therefore worrying. “The tiger mosquito is not just a pest but a real vector of disease” recalls Ramlati Ali.

Via LaDepeche

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