Although the figures remain lower than those of previous years over the same period, the epidemiological situation is being closely monitored. Indeed, the data identifies a lower activity than during the last 3 years (2019, 2020, 2021) when the doubling of the number of cases appeared from the end of February/beginning of March.
The heavy rainfall currently recorded is likely to favor the development of mosquitoes and therefore the transmission of the disease. Also, 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 (repellents, mosquito nets) and consult a doctor immediately as soon as first symptoms.
Dengue fever situation as of March 16, 2022 (Public Health Data France Réunion, ARS)
Over the period concerned, the cases of dengue fever recorded are distributed in the following municipalities:
South (69% of cases): Saint-Pierre, Petite lie, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Louis
West (23.5% of cases): La Possession, Le Port, Saint-Leu, Saint-Paul, Trois-Bassins
North (5% of cases): Saint-Denis, Sainte-Marie
East (2.5% of cases)
Since January 1, 2022
499 confirmed cases
4 hospitalizations
28 emergency visits
In addition, isolated cases have been reported in 18 municipalities and a cluster of cases has been identified in Saint-Pierre (Terre Sainte) and Saint-Joseph (Grand Anse).
Vector control
The SDIS and ARS La Réunion teams are mobilized on a daily basis to carry out door-to-door interventions and treatments.
Their missions consist in: informing and sensitizing the population to prevention 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 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
Protect yourself, including during the 7 days following the appearance 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 against attack by another serotype.
Eliminate and empty stagnant water from mosquito breeding sites:
anything that can contain water in your 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 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 against mosquito bites to avoid transmitting the disease 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