In their last quantified press release, the ARS and the Prefecture of La Réunion announce that the SDIS comes to reinforce the anti-vector fight of the ARS. From February 7 to 20, 2022, 90 cases of dengue were reported in 18 municipalities. Since the beginning of the year, 3 hospitalizations for dengue, including 2 for severe form and 10 visits to the emergency room have been recorded.
Although the figures remain lower than those of previous years over the same period, the epidemiological situation is being closely monitored. Indeed, the heavy rains have contributed to the appearance of numerous breeding sites, likely to favor the development of mosquitoes and therefore the transmission of the disease.
To prevent a new epidemic wave, the ARS vector control service remains highly mobilized. Since this 1is March, its teams are reinforced by firefighters from the SDIS to carry out interventions and treatments in the courtyards and gardens of the neighborhoods where dengue fever is circulating.
Reunionese are encouraged to maintain preventive measures on a daily basis to avoid contracting the disease: remove anything that may contain water at home, protect themselves from mosquitoes (repellent, mosquito nets) and consult a doctor immediately at the first symptoms. .
Dengue fever situation as of March 2, 2022 (Public Health data France Reunion, ARS)
Over the period concerned, the cases of dengue fever recorded are distributed in the following municipalities:
- South (57% of cases): Petite Ile, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Louis, Saint-Pierre, Étang-Salé, Cilaos, Saint-Philippe, Between two
- Where is (26% of cases): La Possession, Le Port, Saint-Leu, Saint-Paul, Trois-Bassins
- North : Saint-Denis, Sainte-Marie
- Is : Saint-Benoît, Saint-André, Sainte-Suzanne
ANo dengue outbreak has been identified in the last two weeks.
The SDIS in support of the anti-vector control of the ARS
To deal with a potential epidemic restart, the prefecture and ARS La Réunion have anticipated the reinforcement of vector control teams. Since 1is March 2022, 56 volunteer firefighters from the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS) are mobilized on a daily basis to carry out door-to-door interventions and treatments. Trained and equipped by the ARS, they are engaged until the end of June.
Their missions, like those carried out by ARS agents, consist of:
- inform and raise public awareness of preventive actions;
- remove breeding sites (anything that can contain water) in yards and gardens with the inhabitant;
- carry out daytime insecticide treatments in the most impacted areas in order to eliminate mosquitoes likely to transmit dengue fever.
Since the upgrade to level 3 of the ORSEC system for the fight against arboviruses in March 2018, the SDIS has been involved with the ARS teams in the fight against dengue fever.
Recommendations to protect yourself from mosquito bites and dengue fever
- To protect yourself, including during the 7 days following the onset of symptoms to protect those around you (repellent, mosquito net…) ;
Continue to protect yourself, even if you have already been sick with dengue before; several dengue serotypes can circulate and infection with one serotype does not protect against attack by another serotype.
- Eliminate and empty stagnant water from mosquito breeding sites :
everything that can 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 the sample in a medical analysis laboratory prescribed by your doctor to confirm the diagnosis of dengue fever.
- If you are sick with dengue fever :
– keep protecting yourself from mosquito bites to avoid transmitting the disease to those around you and monitor your state of health, especially between the 4th and the 8th sick day.
– consult your doctor or an emergency service in the event of a deterioration in your state of health.