Mosquitoes are under surveillance in the region. The Occitanie regional audit office announced on June 28, 2024, that it had audited the accounts and management of the interdepartmental agreement for the mosquito control of the Mediterranean coast (EID-Med). The union carries out mosquito elimination operations from the Albères to the Bouches-du-Rhône. Its basic mission targeted swamp mosquitoesmainly by larvicidal treatment.
An invasive species carrying viruses
Today, the entity faces a new challenge: the development of tiger mosquitoes. “The tiger mosquito, ranked among the most invasive species in the world thanks to its adaptability, is colonizing the territory beyond the Mediterranean coast alone,” adds the regional audit office. The species is therefore subject to increased surveillance. Its tendency to be a vector of viruses such as dengue fever or chikungunya also motivates the reinforcement of controls.
An action complementary to that of the State
“The fight against the spread of viruses transmitted by tiger mosquitoes is the responsibility of the State via the regional health agency. But the EID positions itself as a player in this fight,” continues the regional audit office. To carry out this action, which is complementary to its basic mission, the EID is mobilizing the financial resources allocated to its historic role of coastal mosquito control. However, the tiger mosquito treatment obeys a different logic from that of marsh mosquitoes.
Review your financing model
As a result, the EID’s financing model no longer allows it to cover its historical missions under satisfactory conditions. “Its operating expenses must be controlled. As for revenue, the challenge is to recover, at regular intervals, all of its members’ contributions,” informs the regional audit office. The objective is to redefine its intervention strategy and to better evaluate the service provided to users.
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