2023-07-11 06:51:27
Par Briac Trebert
Published on 11 Jul 23 at 8:51 See my news Follow News The Aedes albopictus mosquito, otherwise known as the tiger mosquito and implanted in metropolitan France since 2004, has continued to spread across the territory. (©Illustration / Adobe Stock)
The epidemiological situation with regard to dengue in metropolitan France was “exceptional in 2022”, explains a study by Public Health France (Spf) published this Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
In question, “the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Editor’s note: the tiger mosquito), established in metropolitan France since 2004″, which continues “to increase its distribution area”, alerts the National Public Health Agency.
This species of insects native to Southeast Asia, is the main responsible for the transmission of the disease.
A mosquito arrived in the Alpes-Maritimes in 2004
It appeared in France in the Alpes-Maritimes, on the border with Italy. As of January 1, 2022, it was considered established and active in 67 of the 96 metropolitan departments. At the beginning of 2023, 71 departments were colonized by this “vector mosquito” Aedes albopictus, according to a map from the Ministry of Health.
In total, in 2022, Public Health France thus identifies 378 imported cases of dengue fever23 from chikungunya and six from Zika in France.
Indigenous transmissions were more intense in 2022 with a high number of episodes. Transmission was also earlier, with two cases showing clinical signs in June instead of July for the earliest identified cases so far.
Indigenous transmissions have been more intense with a high number of episodes and cases identified: the number of indigenous cases of dengue identified for the year 2022 alone is higher than the total number of cases identified over the entire period 2010-2021 (66 cases versus 48).
Public health France
To limit the risk of transmission of the arboviruses that it can spread (dengue, but also chikungunya and Zika), monitoring of cases, imported and indigenous, has been in place since 2006, recalls SPF.
Videos: currently on Actu
Indigenous cases refer to patients who have not traveled to areas where the virus circulates widely such as the West Indies, but were bitten by an infected mosquito in contact with an infected traveler.
Dengue fever, a disease that can be fatal
Dengue fever (also called “tropical flu”) is a viral disease transmitted to humans by these mosquitoes of the Aedes genus, “during a blood meal”, explains the Institut Pasteur.
“Classic” dengue appears suddenly following two to seven days of incubation with the appearance of a high fever often accompanied by headaches, nausea, vomiting, joint and muscle pain and a skin rash resembling to that of measles, details the foundation.
After three to four days, a brief remission is observed, then the symptoms intensify – conjunctival hemorrhages, nosebleeds or bruising may occur – before regressing rapidly following a week. Healing is accompanied by a fortnight’s convalescence.
But in some patients, the disease can evolve into two serious forms: “dengue hemorrhagic fever then dengue fever with shock syndrome which is fatal”.
The surveillance established in mainland France is proving “effective”, according to SPF, and the “control measures put in place when cases are identified have so far helped to limit the size of indigenous transmissions”.
Device under tension in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
However, “the episodes of 2022 have put the device under tension in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur”, alerts the health agency, judging “essential to maintain, even to strengthen, the involvement of the various actors”.
Health professionals must in particular “be better informed of the risk of indigenous transmission” of these diseases.
The population must also “be better made aware of the importance of measures to prevent mosquito bites and fight once morest breeding sites”, and consult a health professional in the event of a flu-like syndrome upon returning from transmission areas.
It was a particularly warm spring and summer in 2022 that “favoured vector activity and the efficiency of dengue transmission”, according to SPF. As with chikungunya and Zika, there is currently no treatment or vaccine to stem these tropical diseases.
How to fight once morest the tiger mosquito?
By removing or emptying all places and objects that can retain rainwater, respond the authorities.
Female tiger mosquitoes prefer small amounts of water to lay their eggs (the equivalent of a plug of water may be enough for them!). They lay up to 200 eggs every 15 days which develop in all kinds of containers and artificial reservoirs where water can stagnate: vases, pots and cups, water collectors, drums, cans, drains, drains, rain manholes , gutters, terraces on pedestals, or even in objects left in the garden (children’s games, tires, work equipment, etc.).
Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.
1689060428
#Mosquitotiger #exceptional #situation #France #cases #dengue #fever
