2023-04-11 10:21:07
For a few years now, the regional press has regularly echoed, in summer, indigenous cases of dengue fever, infection with the Zika virus or even chikungunya. Unfortunately, these diseases transmitted by the tiger mosquito are expected to increase in metropolitan France in the coming years.
In a press release published on April 3 (source 1), the Health Risk Monitoring and Anticipation Committee (Covars) indicates that our next summers will be increasingly marked by epidemics of these arboviruses transmitted by these mosquitoes. “vectors”. Because the tiger mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) are now widely established in mainland France, and proliferate due to climate change.
An inevitable increase in cases due to climate change
In the summer of 2022 alone, metropolitan France experienced 65 autochthonous cases of dengue fever, i.e. contracted on the territory, and not coming from a contamination abroad. “Rise in cases is inevitable due to increased travel and climate change “, lamented the entomologist Didier Fontenille, co-author of the report, during a press briefing. “ Soon, all of France will be affected by the tiger mosquito. As for Aedes aegypti, it is resistant to insecticides, these are two very bad news “. These so-called “tropical” diseases could thus “become public health problems in mainland France”, warns Covars.
The increasingly favorable summer temperatures for the tiger mosquito, combined with intercontinental travel spreading the dengue, chikungunya or even Zika viruses, should therefore lead to outbreaks of cases or even epidemics within France itself. If mainland France has until now been rather spared from serious forms of these diseases, it could see some occur, the increase in the number of cases resulting statistically in an increase in serious and even fatal cases.
A Committee worried about the 2024 Olympics
In its opinion, the Covars says it is particularly concerned about this threat as a major sporting event is looming, bringing together many people: the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. The Covars therefore details a whole series of measures to be put in place to limit the the occurrence of epidemic outbreaks of dengue, Zika and chikungunya. “ We are not in a disaster scenario, but we must take the risk seriously through prevention campaigns or better organization “, underlined to the press the president of Covars, Brigitte Autran.
Health professionals, mayors, regional health agencies, departmental councils, national health security agency (ANSES)… Many public health actors must therefore work together and strengthen their cooperation in order to prevent the occurrence of epidemics. “ Despite its many strengths, France’s ability to react and effectively control the emergence or increased incidence of these diseases with current systems remains to be consolidated », Le Covars estimates. « It is now necessary to anticipate the emergence throughout France of new outbreaks or epidemics via a synergy of measures and in a holistic approach to the management of these health risks by strongly involving the populations who play an essential role. in the fight against these infections “, further indicates the Committee.
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