81 new cases, a resumption of the epidemic is to be feared

DENGUE FUE IN REUNION: A new epidemic resumption is to be feared

From January 24 to February 6, 81 dengue fever cases were confirmed. The cases are spread over 15 municipalities. Over these two weeks, 3 visits to the emergency room and 1 hospitalization for dengue were recorded. At this stage, however, the figures remain lower than those of previous years for the same period.

The current weather conditions, the increase in the number of new cases and the identification of the first clusters of cases in the South and West, however, suggest a new epidemic resumption.

As soon as a group of cases is identified, surveillance and reinforced actions are implemented by the ARS, Santé Publique France and the local authorities.

The actions are as follows:
– vector control operations around cases,
– informing and raising awareness among the population and health professionals,
– organization of sanitation actions.

The authorities recall the essential preventive measures to avoid contracting the disease and thus limit its spread:
– remove anything that may contain water at home to prevent mosquitoes from developing,
– protect yourself with repellent and set up mosquito nets,
– consult a doctor immediately at the first symptoms.

Dengue fever situation as of February 17, 2022 (Public Health data France Réunion, ARS)

Over the period concerned, the cases of dengue fever recorded are distributed in the following municipalities:
– South: Le Tampon, Petite Ile, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Louis, Saint-Pierre, Les Avirons, Etang Salé
– West: La Possession, Le Port, Saint-Leu, Saint-Paul
– North: Saint-Denis, Sainte-Marie
– East: Saint-Benoît, Sainte-Suzanne

Following cases identified in recent weeks in certain neighborhoods, special surveillance has been put in place at:
• Petite-Ile: Grande Anse Les Hauts
• Saint-Pierre: Downtown, Holy Land
• Rowing: Bananas

Since January 1, 2022
• 259 confirmed cases
• 1 hospitalization
• 4 emergency visits

Reinforcement of the surveillance of the first clusters of cases

Since the appearance of the first outbreaks of active circulation of dengue fever (South and West of the island), surveillance and control operations have been reinforced in these areas in order to limit the spread of the virus. The following actions have been taken:
• implementation of targeted vector control operations as soon as a case is known in a district;
• dissemination of practical individual and collective prevention measures to the inhabitants of the neighborhoods concerned, via ARS officers and doctors;
• specific information for health professionals (doctors, paediatricians, hospital professionals, etc.), particularly in areas where the virus is actively circulating, on the epidemiological situation, recommendations for biological confirmation of cases and treatment;
• informing local authorities for the implementation of targeted sanitation actions.

Recommendations to protect yourself from mosquito bites and dengue fever

• Protect yourself, including during the 7 days following the onset of symptoms to protect those around you (repellent, mosquito net, etc.); Continue to protect yourself, even if you have already been sick with dengue fever before; several dengue serotypes can circulate and infection with one serotype does not protect once morest attack by another serotype.
• Eliminate and empty stagnant water from mosquito breeding grounds: Identify anything that may contain water at home and all around your home…
• Consult a doctor at the first symptoms: fever, headache, muscle/joint pain, nausea, vomiting… and take a sample in the medical analysis laboratory prescribed by your doctor to confirm the diagnosis of dengue fever.
• If you are sick with dengue fever:
– continue to protect yourself once morest mosquito bites to avoid transmitting it to those around you and monitor your state of health, especially between the 4th and 8th day of illness.
– consult your doctor or an emergency service if your state of health deteriorates. Find all the information on dengue fever in Réunion on the ARS La Réunion website