Chikungunya Cases Rise in Charente-Maritime, Linked to Travel and Local Mosquitoes
Charente-Maritime, France is experiencing a rise in locally acquired cases of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, health authorities report. The cases are linked to residents returning from travel to areas with active transmission, including Guadeloupe and Réunion, where they were bitten by infected mosquitoes.These travelers then became sources of infection for local mosquito populations,initiating a concerning propagation cycle.
According to Véronique Vansieleghem, head of the ARS Surroundings Health Pole in Charente-Maritime, the situation requires urgent action to prevent further spread. “They declare the disease on the territory, in mainland France, and they in turn become a link of potential contamination,” Vansieleghem told Here La rochelle. Chikungunya causes fever and severe joint pain, and can lead to chronic complications. The ARS is mobilizing resources to control the outbreak and emphasizes the importance of public cooperation.
Active Monitoring and Control Measures
The regional health agency (ARS) has implemented active surveillance, installing mosquito traps in high-risk areas such as ports, airports, and healthcare facilities. The Departmental Council is conducting targeted mosquito control (demoustication) campaigns. Residents are urged to report any sightings of the Asian tiger mosquito, the primary vector for chikungunya in the region, to authorities.
Vansieleghem cautioned that the situation could worsen without widespread participation in preventative measures. “Chikungunya could strongly progress if everyone does not put his own [effort in],” she stated to Here La Rochelle on September 5th. She suggested that learning to live with chikungunya may be necessary, stressing the need for public education on simple preventative steps, such as eliminating stagnant water sources where mosquitoes breed. The mosquito control campaign is scheduled to continue through November.
Source: BFM TV
