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France Confirms Earliest Local Chikungunya Cases in Hérault and Var

Authorities say intensified mosquito control is needed following these unusually early transmissions to curb further domestic spread

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Le moustique tigre peut transmettre le chikungunya par ses piqûres.
Un moustique tigre à Nice, le 10 août 2023

Overview

  • The Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regional health agencies reported local transmissions in Prades-le-Lez (Hérault) and La Crau (Var) on June 16.
  • Santé publique France noted these are the earliest seasonally local chikungunya infections documented in metropolitan France during tiger mosquito activity.
  • Since May 1, France has recorded 583 imported chikungunya cases under enhanced surveillance for mosquito-borne viruses.
  • La Réunion’s outbreak, which caused about 200,000 cases and 23 deaths at its April peak, is now receding, while Mayotte remains in the grip of an uncertain-scale epidemic.
  • Health Minister Yannick Neuder has emphasized strict individual mosquito control and warned that broader measures could be deployed if domestic spread worsens.