2024-09-13 13:22:37
Metropolitan France is exposed “high risk” of epidemics linked to the tiger mosquito in the next five years, estimates the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES), in a press release on Friday September 13Warning of the dangers of conflict or tension in the health system. Dengue, chikungunya, Zika… many diseases are involved.
In mainland France, “an arbovirus epidemic, all viruses combined, has a probability of between 6 and 7, on a scale [qui va] from 0 to 9, to be held in the next five years »explained ANSES experts, based on consultation with stakeholders in the field and review of scientific literature.
The mosquito, which is now present in 78 departments, has caused an increase in dengue and chikungunya cases in France in recent years. In 2023, around fifty cases of dengue fever have been detected, after the record of 66 cases in 2022. Until now, the indigenous cases have been in the outbreak area, where it is always possible to find the origin of the contamination .
“The health system will be under pressure in the event of a major pandemic”
“We are talking about an epidemic when it is not possible to connect all infected people to an outbreak. This means that the movements escape the control mechanism. “specific Emeline Barrès, one of the two managers of the proposal, referred to in the press release.
Before adding: “The health system will be under pressure in the event of a major pandemic”if it coincides with another, like in the Antilles in 2020, where a dengue epidemic occurred at the same time as that of Covid-19, experts warn. “The risk can also be that the health supply, especially the public workers and emergency services, are already full, as may be the case during the period of mosquito activity”they add up.
To have a better prospect, ANSES recommends giving international experiences and trained caregivers in risk factors and warning signals for important forms of arbovirosis. An epidemic, even a small one, can also affect the economy, especially tourism, with the frequency of affected areas.
As epidemics are known to increase social inequalities, ANSES also calls for vigilance regarding the access of the most disadvantaged to information and to prevention and treatment.
#high #risk #epidemic #France #years #ANSES #warns