The “Reinforced vigilance” season begins on May 1 in Occitania. Until the fall, the Regional Health Agency of the Occitanie region is strengthening its monitoring of the Tiger mosquito, a insect as painful as potentially dangerous: the tiger is capable of transmitting diseases from one person to another. Which is planned to avoid any pandemic.
When France sleeps, the tiger mosquito wakes up! From this May 1st and until November 30, Occitanie again entered in the reinforced vigilance season against the Tiger mosquito. Present in a majority of French departments, this insect can transmit several viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya or zika. The objective of this surveillance? Prevent an imported case from triggering a local transmission, called “indigenous”, via the bite of an infected mosquito in the territory.
In 2024, 178 cases imported from dengue were identified in the region, as well as 5 indigenous cases, against 23 the previous year. The health authorities recall that the majority of cases are linked to trips to tropical areas where these viruses are actively circulating, such as Guadeloupe, Martinique or Reunion. To avoid an epidemic similar to that which is currently touching the meeting (33,000 cases of chikungunya since January 2025), a reminder of the good gestures to adopt is essential …
Simple gestures to brake proliferation
The tiger mosquito lays its eggs in small amounts of stagnant water, often in various and varied containers. It evolves in the immediate vicinity of the dwellings, with a radius of action of approximately 150 meters. This is why the mobilization of citizens is essential: without stagnant water, no place of reproduction for the tiger mosquito.
The right gestures to adopt are widely disseminated by regional health agencies each year: empty saucers, buckets or tarpaulins, cover water tanks, change the water from plants once a week, clean gutters, clearing the gardens … These actions must also be carried out in businesses, communities or on public space. But it is not enough to effectively fight against diseases transported by the tiger mosquito.
Eliminate any doubt
Beyond field actions, this campaign is also based on active epidemiological monitoring. Health professionals, doctors and laboratories, are invited to immediately report any suspicious case to the Regional Health Agency. This makes it possible to quickly trigger health surveys and, if necessary, targeted demustication operations. Anyone with a suspicion of contamination must therefore notify their attending physician. ARS Occitanie thus calls for the greatest vigilance the most at risk of having been infected.
Travelers leaving for tropical areas are actually called upon to protect themselves during and after their stay: covering clothes, mosquito nets, repellents, and surveillance of the state of health on their return. A fever, muscle or joint pain must be subject to a quick consultation, with mention of the doctor’s trip. The goal is clear: to prevent any local contamination chain.
Finally, be aware that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health makes available to the general public recommendations for anti-mosquito repellents with usage recommendations. You can consult these tables by clicking here.
