Breaking: Tiger Mosquito Presence Escalates in Rennes – Two Neighborhoods Under Increased Surveillance
Rennes, France – October 12, 2024 – City officials are urging residents in two Rennes neighborhoods – Clémenceau and near the train station – to take preventative measures following the detection of tiger mosquito eggs. This marks the first time eggs have been found in Rennes since the Binquenais district was classified as colonized in 2023.
The findings come from a surveillance network managed by the Regional Health agency (ARS), utilizing 21 nesting traps placed throughout the city. According to Audrey Martin, health and surroundings manager at Rennes town hall, eggs were initially discovered in traps during the August monitoring period in both the Clémenceau area and near the station.
A subsequent September survey, with results received on October 10th, confirmed the continued presence of eggs in the Clémenceau trap. If a third consecutive positive test occurs in October, the Clémenceau district will officially be designated as colonized.
While officials are downplaying immediate alarm, they emphasize the critical need for proactive action. “We are blessed to be at the very beginning of the mosquito’s establishment, so it is now that we must act to avoid finding ourselves in a situation which, precisely, would be out of control,” stated Jérôme Rochelle, external environment manager at the ARS of Ille-et-Vilaine. “if you fight against the proliferation of larval breeding sites, you cut the mosquito’s reproduction cycle and it is obvious that this is what matters.”
The city is responding by distributing flyers to residents within a 150-meter radius of the positive traps, encouraging them to eliminate potential breeding grounds for the mosquito. these include stagnant water sources like plant cups, water collectors, buckets, watering cans, basins, and gutters.
This progress follows Brittany being officially recognized as affected by the tiger mosquito since 2022,when the commune of Domagné,in Ille-et-Vilaine,was classified as colonized. The tiger mosquito is a vector for diseases including dengue fever, chikungunya, and the Zika virus, prompting annual prevention campaigns to limit its spread.
