A threat that is spreading more and more in metropolitan France. According to data from the Vigilance-Moustiques site, 71 departments of the territory are now under red surveillance, synonymous with the implantation and strong activity of the tiger mosquito.
In just a few years, the invasive insect originating from Asia has colonized more and more departments in the north of the country, where it had never been recorded before.
northern proliferation
In the Paris region, this rapid expansion angered many locals. Among them, the inhabitants of the city of Antony, in Hauts-de-Seine, who have put a petition online, already signed by more than 1,500 people, demanding measures from the municipality.
To avoid more and more frequent attacks, an “environmentally friendly disinfestation campaign” is called for, as was carried out last week in Saint-Mandé, as well as the free distribution of insect and mosquito traps. For its part, the municipality has promised to fill a puddle of stagnant water, a favorite breeding ground for insects.
It must be said that the proliferation of the tiger mosquito in the territory of Ile-de-France changes the situation and the daily life of many Antonians, devoured daily. “I do this at least twice a day, once before I go to work and at night before I sleep,” one of them told BFMTV, lighting several lemon candles and incense sticks.
Review demosification methods?
Further south, also in the Hauts-de-Seine, the situation is also worrying in Châtillon, where the socialist mayor Nadège Azzaz has recently questioned the Regional Health Agency (ARS) over the proliferation in her city.
In a letter sent this Monday to the director of the ARS Île-de-France, the elected stated that she had received “a lot of information from residents” that “in addition to the inconvenience of the bites, they fear for their health”, although the municipality has already made the effort to eliminate all points of standing water.
“In order for it to carry out mosquito control, there must be a proven case of the disease, dengue. What we ask is perhaps that this type of method can be reviewed by the ARS, but more broadly by the State, that it should be able to support us more fully at the level of the municipalities”, laments the elected official to BFMTV.
How to protect yourself from it?
The health concerns of citizens are perfectly legitimate. The tiger mosquito is famous for spreading many diseases, including dengue, most of the time benign, or even chikungunya.
“The first thing to do is protect yourself, for example eliminate the place where water can stagnate. They also have an affinity with used tires that we would have abandoned with a little. You have to empty the containers that contain water, the showers, the saucers,” recalls Jean-Pierre Thierry, BFMTV health advisor.
In case of doubts about a spotted insect, it is advisable to contribute to the monitoring of your establishment by reporting it on the official website of the health authorities at the following address: signalement-moustique.anses.fr. In the event of a bite, contact a health professional as soon as possible.
Source: BFM TV
