Tiger Mosquito-Borne Viruses Continue to Spread in Southern France
Montpellier, France - public health officials in the Occitanie region of southern France are reporting a continued rise in locally acquired cases of mosquito-borne illnesses, signaling an unusually active period of virus transmission via the invasive Tiger mosquito.The Regional Health Agency (ARS) announced Thursday that surveillance will be reinforced through November 30th as cases climb.
This year is poised to be a record year for transmission of viruses carried by the established Tiger mosquito population in Occitanie. The ongoing spread raises concerns for residents and underscores the importance of preventative measures as warmer weather persists. To date in 2024, health authorities have identified 46 indigenous cases of Chikungunya, alongside 4 locally acquired cases of Dengue fever, and a single imported case of Zika virus.
The ARS reports the majority of Chikungunya cases are concentrated in the Gard (24 cases) and Hérault (22 cases) departments. Dengue cases have been detected in Lot, Pyrénées-Orientales, Gard, and Haute-Garonne, with one case reported in each. in addition to the locally acquired infections, 99 imported cases of Chikungunya and 86 imported cases of Dengue have been recorded.
Responding to the outbreaks, authorities have conducted 287 prospecting operations and implemented 211 anti-vectorial control measures in affected areas. Active clusters of Chikungunya have been identified in Poulx-Cavairac (Gard),with 21 confirmed cases,and in Castries (14 cases) and Mauguio (4 cases) in Hérault. The Poulx cluster remained active as of September 1st, while the last cases in Castries and Mauguio were reported on August 5th and September 1st, respectively. A smaller cluster near Candillargues/Saint André de Majécoules has yielded 3 cases.
Nationwide, Public Health France has identified 38 episodes of indigenous Chikungunya transmission totaling 382 cases, and 11 episodes of indigenous Dengue transmission resulting in 21 cases.
Health officials emphasize the continued relevance of preventative measures, including eliminating standing water around homes and businesses, wearing protective clothing, and utilizing mosquito repellents, particularly as milder temperatures extend the mosquito season.
