Alpes-Maritimes Middle Schoolers Gripped by Chikungunya Fears Amidst Slowed Case Increase
NICE, Alpes-Maritimes – October 11, 2025, 13:07:11 CEST – A wave of anxiety swept through a middle school in the Alpes-Maritimes region earlier this year, fueled by warnings about chikungunya and the absence of a classmate exhibiting symptoms. Parents and students report a period of heightened fear, wiht some believing the mosquito-borne illness could be fatal, despite official assurances to the contrary. The incident underscores the challenges of communicating public health information-particularly regarding emerging diseases-to young people in an era already marked by anxiety.
While the Alpes-Maritimes has seen a slowing of indigenous chikungunya cases since the major outbreak of 2014-2016, imported cases continue to pose a risk, especially during peak mosquito season. The recent scare highlights the lingering sensitivity surrounding the virus and the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly within school communities. Public health officials are now re-evaluating dialog strategies to better address parental and student concerns, aiming to balance transparency with reassurance.
According to a mother whose daughter, identified as “Kim” for privacy, was affected by the anxieties, students received a notice from the school detailing preventative measures. “We were told that it was a serious illness, that one could even die from it. With our friends,we talked about it quite a bit,” she recalled. The fear intensified when a classmate began experiencing symptoms consistent with chikungunya-fever, headaches, and joint pain.
“we didn’t know if it was that or something else,” the mother continued. “But it’s representative of the children’s state of mind at that time. who, by discussing, perhaps amplified things. But it’s true that we were alerted quite a bit at the start and, then, there was a bit of a lack of information.” She described a period of uncertainty, with parents exchanging information and conducting their own research. “I did research, to reassure her, to show her that fatal cases affected vulnerable people, trying to make the link with Covid. It’s not easy being a teenager, in this somewhat anxiety-inducing era.”
Kim has since improved, though the mother noted her daughter “Keep[s] the windows closed again…” demonstrating a lingering apprehension.
Chikungunya virus, transmitted by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, is not typically fatal but can cause debilitating joint pain that can last for months or even years. The Alpes-Maritimes, a popular tourist destination, has been particularly vulnerable to imported cases, with travelers bringing the virus from endemic regions. Following the 2014-2016 outbreak, which saw hundreds of locally transmitted cases, authorities implemented enhanced mosquito control measures and public awareness campaigns. As of September 30, 2025, the Alpes-Maritimes regional health authority reported 12 confirmed imported cases of chikungunya this year, with no evidence of local transmission. However, officials emphasize the continued need for vigilance and preventative measures, such as using mosquito repellent and eliminating standing water.
