53 cases of chikungunya have been reported to the ARS La Réunion since August 2024. The majority of these cases have been recorded in the south of the island
Given the evolution of the situation and the risk of an epidemic in the coming weeks, Gérard Cotellon, general director of ARS La Réunion, in agreement with Patrice Latron, prefect of La Réunion, has decided to activate the level 2B of the ORSEC system for combating arboviruses: “Intensification of autochthonous viral circulation and risk of developing into an epidemic”.
This level corresponds in particular to a strengthening of public health actions and partnership actions with municipalities and intercommunities. ARS teams, in conjunction with municipal services, continue their daily awareness-raising and mosquito control interventions in the neighborhoods concerned.
The current weather conditions, which are particularly conducive to the proliferation of mosquitoes, reinforce the urgency of action: everyone’s commitment is essential to avoid a chikungunya epidemic even as dengue fever continues to circulate on the island.
Among the 53 cases of chikungunya identified, four clusters of cases (outbreaks) are currently active:
• in the commune of Etang-Salé in the Ravine Sheunon district (27 cases),
• in the commune of Saint-Paul, one in the Aigrettes district (7 cases) and the other at Ermitage (9 cases),
• in the commune of Le Tampon, at Ilet de Grand-Bassin,
• a new outbreak has emerged on Line 400 located in the communes of Tampon and Saint-Pierre.
Several isolated cases have also been identified in the municipalities of Saint-Pierre, Le Tampon and Saint-Louis during the last fortnight. The total number of cases remains moderate and without health impact at this stage. At the same time, dengue fever continues to circulate quietly on the island (18 cases reported since the end of August in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Joseph, Le Port and Saint-Paul), requiring increased vigilance against the two viruses.
Health
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