A record number of imported cases of dengue fever, nearly 1,700, have been registered in mainland France since the beginning of 2024, an “unprecedented” situation for which vigilance must be redoubled, especially in view of the Olympic Games, health authorities warned on Tuesday french,
“Since January 1, 2024, 1,679 cases of dengue fever have been imported into mainland France, compared to 131 in 2023 during the same period”, declared, during a press conference, the Director General of Health, Dr. Grégory Emery, according to which “we are facing an unprecedented situation”, notes Noi.md with reference to digi24.ro.
These imported cases refer to people who have traveled to regions of the world, particularly the French Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique), where this virus transmitted by tiger mosquitoes is endemic.
“What we observe in France is a mirror of what is happening in the Antilles and more widely in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean”, where dengue fever has been circulating since the beginning of the year “at levels never reached before”, noted the director general of Public Health France, Dr. Caroline Semaille.
From the middle of 2023, most cases of dengue fever imported into mainland France are in the case of people returning from the French Antilles, she specified. “Almost 20% are over 65 years old” and “fortunately there are very few children”, mentioned Dr. Caroline Semaille.
Just ahead of the Olympics, which will encourage population mixing in the height of the tiger mosquito season, 2024 promises to break the 2023 record for imported dengue cases in mainland France (2,019).
Since “the significant number of imported cases could lead to the establishment of domestic transmission chains in France”, the director general of Health called for “vigilance and the adoption of appropriate actions to limit the proliferation of the tiger mosquito”, for example by eliminating stagnant water and avoiding mosquito bites.
The prevention messages are “all the more important as in the coming weeks France will host an important, happy and positive event: the Olympic and Paralympic Games for which many participants will come to the metropolitan area”, warned Grégory Emery.
