In a note addressed to health professionals Monday, September 12, 2022, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) is concerned regarding the increase in cases of dengue in mainland France, reports Capital . The health authorities have indeed recalled that five episodes of autochthonous dengue transmission have been identified in the PACA and Occitanie regions since July 2022.
“The occurrence of episodes in departments hitherto spared, such as Pyrénées-Orientales, Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées, as well as their size, testify to an increase in the risk of dengue fever in mainland France, but also to chikungunya and zika, also transmitted by the tiger mosquito” developed the DGS.
In total, from 1is May to September 2, Public Health France recorded 139 imported cases of dengue fever and 26 indigenous cases linked to these five transmission episodes. However, these figures might be much higher, the disease being asymptomatic in 75% of cases.
Other outbreaks to anticipate
This increase in the risk of dengue fever in mainland France is explained, according to the authorities, by the resumption of travel and the return of travelers from endemic areas. But also by the development of the tiger mosquito in mainland France and by current climatic conditions which would favor the reproduction of this species present in 67 departments. According to them, other cases or clusters of cases might thus appear in the next weeks.
In this regard, the DGS recommended reporting any case of contamination to the ARS (Regional Health Agencies) so that prevention operations and investigative. Some of the most common symptoms of dengue include fever, joint pain, and digestive upset. Sometimes red patches may appear. More serious symptoms may also occur, including high fever, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, restlessness, drowsiness, edema and signs of bleeding.
