HEALTH – It is now present in 78 metropolitan departments. France is exposed to “a fairly high risk” epidemics linked to the tiger mosquito in the next five years, warns Anses on Friday, September 13.
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“An arbovirosis epidemic, all viruses combined, has a probability of between 6 and 7, on a scale of 0 to 9, of occurring in the next five years” in metropolitan France, according to the experts from the National Food Safety Agency, based on consultation with field stakeholders and a review of scientific literature.
Dengue and chikungunya cases on the rise
In recent years, cases of dengue and chikungunya have increased in France, with around fifty indigenous cases of dengue in 2023, infected locally, after a record of 66 in 2022.
So far, indigenous cases have been localized outbreaks, where it has always been possible to trace the origin of the infections.
“We speak of an epidemic from the moment when it is not possible to link all infected people to a focus. This means that transmissions escape the control system”said Émeline Barrès, one of the two coordinators of the expertise, quoted in a press release.
The presence of the tiger mosquito, climatic conditions favorable to its reproduction, the arrival of infected people from areas of viral circulation, the effectiveness of the fight against mosquitoes and viral transmission all play a role in the outbreak of an epidemic.
“The health system would be under strain”
“In the event of an epidemic, the means of prevention and control of arboviruses could quickly be saturated”warns Anses, recommending adapting material, financial and human resources. And “the health system would be under strain in the event of a major epidemic”with many cases over a large territory, or if one epidemic coincided with another, as in the Antilles in 2020, where a dengue epidemic occurred at the same time as that of Covid-19, its experts warn.
“The risk may also exist if the healthcare provision, particularly general practitioners and emergency services, is already saturated, as may be the case during the mosquito’s period of activity.”they add.
To better anticipate, Anses recommends making better use of overseas experiences and training caregivers in the risk factors and warning signs of serious forms of arbovirosis.
An epidemic, even a small one, could also affect the economy, mainly tourism, with a decrease in the number of people visiting the affected areas. As epidemics are known to aggravate social inequalities, ANSES also calls for vigilance regarding access to information, prevention and care for the most disadvantaged.
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