Health warnings have recently emerged from traveling to the south of France, after scientists confirmed that it has become a home for dengue fever, pointing out that climate change has played a major role in that.
What is the reason for the warning?
A 44-year-old Briton contracted dengue fever when she traveled to a small village near Nice in southern France, last September.
The woman suffered from fever, headache, muscle aches and a red rash for 3 days, but she did not need any medical treatment and made a full recovery.
Health experts have warned that the disease could spread further there due to climate change.
The reason is that the Asian tiger mosquito, which carries the virus, spreads in warmer temperatures, so there are concerns that it is now an emerging health threat in the south of France.
What are the symptoms of dengue fever?
Dengue fever, which is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, causes no symptoms in an estimated three-quarters of cases.
They often cause mild, flu-like symptoms.
A small minority of people experience headaches, severe joint pain, and even internal bleeding that can lead to death.
Why the French south?
Between June and September 2022, France’s Regional Health Agency (ARS) reported 3 separate outbreaks of dengue virus in people in France who had not traveled abroad.
The south of France has the right combination for a dengue outbreak, with a warm climate, presence of mosquitoes and a large number of travelers returning from trips to tropical countries.
Dengue has broken out several times there in the past 15 years, but the most recent is by far the most severe
What did doctors say?
This woman’s case was presented at the European Conference on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) this year in Copenhagen, by Dr Owen Donnelly, of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London, who told the British Daily Mail:
“The woman was part of an outbreak of more than 30 cases in the south of France in 2022, highlighting the rapidly changing dengue fever.”
“With climate change, in particular higher temperatures and more precipitation, increased global trade and tourism, and a combination of factors, we may see dengue outbreaks spread to more parts of Europe.”
“To ensure an accurate diagnosis, clinicians should consider testing for dengue if patients live in or have visited countries where Asian tiger mosquitoes are present, and have a combination of typical symptoms, even if dengue fever is not common in the area where the infected person is present.”
“Making the correct diagnosis not only has an impact on patients, but also allows us to increase our understanding of the spread of dengue, and to take appropriate steps to control the outbreak.”
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