The proliferation of the tiger mosquito in France, a public health problem that encounters several obstacles. On Wednesday morning, a mosquito control operation planned in the streets of Saintes, in Charente-Maritime, was prevented by the mobilization of about thirty environmental opponents who consider that the molecule used in insecticides during these operations is too dangerous .
“They gave up because they considered that the presence of these citizens, who were opposed to this propagation, was an unsatisfactory condition in relation to the dangerousness of this molecule. All this to kill some mosquitoes, you have to come to your senses, “he explains to BFMTV, EELV MEP Benoît Biteau.
Bad for the environment, not for people
According to opponents, the deltamethrin, which was to be used in a 150-meter perimeter in this Saintais neighborhood, covered with tall grass and abandoned gardens that favor the proliferation of mosquitoes, is too toxic and not very selective. In addition to mosquitoes, it would also eliminate, according to them, bees and aquatic organisms.
“The impact on the ecosystem is important, it will clean everything in terms of insects. There is no selective insecticide that says ‘I only kill mosquitoes’,
it’s the only way there is,” explains Antoine Cohen, an expert in the fight against mosquitoes at Biogents, on the BFMTV antenna.
On the other hand, according to the latter, deltamethrin does not present risks for humans.
“It is a product that can be dangerous in large doses. Afterwards, if it is an intervention like that, and especially in a case of illness, that we are inside and that we do not spray our faces, the risks are minimal,” he says the expert.
The rescheduled intervention
The decision of this mosquito control was made by the department’s Regional Health Agency after the appearance of a case of arbovirus (dengue, chikungunya or Zika) in the town at the beginning of the week. On behalf of the health authorities, we regret the postponement of this intervention.
“We do it because it is the only method to reduce a proven risk to human health. These are insecticides regulated by ANSES, in well-defined circumstances of use, at night, with security perimeters, information to the interested population and with safety measures”. to take,” Laurent Flament, director of the Charente-Maritime ARS, told BFMTV.
Mosquito control should be rescheduled at a later date with another type of insecticide that the ARS says is less controversial but also less effective. Since the beginning of the year, 75 operations of the same type have been carried out in the area.
Faced with the unlimited proliferation of the tiger mosquito, many municipalities, including in the Paris region, are asking the State to intervene and provide more effective support to municipalities.
Source: BFM TV
