We must expect, in the coming years, an increase in cases of dengue, zika and chikungunya, diseases transmitted by “vector” mosquitoes already widely established in the national territory, warns the Health Risk Surveillance and Forecasting Committee (Covars).
In a 60-page opinion published on Wednesday on “the health risks of dengue and other arboviruses” (viruses transmitted in particular by mosquitoes), the former scientific council recalls that the French tropical territories face them on a recurring basis.
But in recent years, the metropolis has also registered a growing number of autochthonous cases (that is, not due to contamination outside the territory) and outbreaks of these viruses.
“Soon all of France will be affected by the tiger mosquito”
In question, mosquitoes Aedes aegypti AND Aedes albopictus (commonly known as tiger mosquito). Since 2010, the number of metropolitan departments colonized by the tiger mosquito has multiplied by 10. And last summer, the metropolis registered 65 cases of autochthonous dengue, recalls Covars.
In mainland France, no severe form of the disease has been observed to date, unlike the overseas territories where populations are repeatedly exposed.
“The increase in cases is inevitable due to increased travel and climate change,” Didier Fontenille, an entomologist, one of the report’s authors, said during a press conference. “Soon all of France will be affected by the tiger mosquito. As for Aedes aegyptiit is resistant to insecticides, that is two very bad news”, he added.
According to Covars, these viral diseases “could become public health problems in mainland France.”
“We must take the risk seriously”
L’organisation prochaine de grands évènements sportifs internationaux en métropole (notamment les JO 2024), qui engender d’importantes migrations de populations venant du monde entier, “renforce les risques de survenue de foyers de dengue, Zika et chikungunya”, ajoute-t -He.
“We were already overwhelmed with 65 cases. If next year there are 300, we will not be able to cope, we will have to adapt”, warned Didier Fontenille.
If France has a system of surveillance, detection, management of these diseases considered “efficient”, it is still “improvable”, in particular in mainland France, estimates Covars. In particular, there is a lack of “national coordination” to be informed of the situation in other regions.
“We are not in a disaster scenario but we must take the risk seriously through prevention campaigns or a better organization of the actors”, concluded the president of Covars, Brigitte Autran, during the press conference.
Source: BFM TV
