2024-04-24 10:41:54
The largest number of imported cases of dengue fever in mainland France since the beginning of 2024: an “unprecedented” situation related to the outbreak in the Americas and the Caribbean, and the health authorities called for vigilance on Tuesday, especially at the time. of the Olympic Games.
From January 1 to April 18, 1,679 imported cases of dengue fever were recorded in mainland France … compared to 131 in 2023 over the same period, according to data from Public Health France. Even before the Olympic Games in Paris (July 26 – August 11), which will encourage the mixing of populations at the height of the tiger mosquito season, 2024 promises to reach the 2023 record for imported dengue cases (2,019).
“We are facing an unprecedented situation,” said the Director General of Health, Dr. Grégory Emery, during a press conference. These “imported” cases involve people who have traveled to regions of the world where this virus transmitted by the bite of a tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is endemic. There is no direct transmission from person to person. “What we are observing in France is a mirror of what is happening in the Antilles, and more broadly in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Dr. Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health in France.
At the end of March, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned that Latin America and the Caribbean should expect the worst dengue season ever, triggered by the El Niño weather phenomenon. As of mid-2023, the vast majority of dengue cases imported into mainland France have returned from the French West Indies. “almost 20% over 65 years of age”, and “unfortunately, very few children”, according to Dr Semaille. Dengue fever is a viral disease that is most often benign, which can progress, in about 1% of cases, to a more serious form, especially resulting in bleeding. Deaths are very rare. The symptoms, often flu-like (fever, headache, body aches), appear within 3 to 14 days after the bite.
“Good gestures”
Treatment is mostly symptomatic, particularly for pain and fever. Due to the risk of bleeding, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are contraindicated. Regarding vaccination, the High Health Authority must make its recommendations known in June.
In mainland France, dengue fever – an arbovirus similar to chikungunya or Zika – is under increased surveillance between May and November, the period of activity of the tiger mosquito, which is now present in almost the entire territory. In 2023, in addition to imported cases, there were about fifty indigenous cases – transmitted by a mosquito present on site – after 66 cases in 2022.
Since “the significant number of imported cases could lead to the establishment of indigenous chains of transmission in France”, the Director General of Health asked “to be alert and take the right measures to prevent the spread of the tiger mosquito limitation”. Everyone is advised to eliminate stagnant water in and around habitats: under pots, cups, gutters, rubbish, etc. Travelers in risk areas, especially Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana, should protect yourself from bites (long clothes, loose, mosquito nets, repellent. ). When returning from a risk area, even without symptoms, you must protect yourself for three weeks against bites or consult if you have symptoms.
Prevention messages “even more important because France will host an important, happy and positive event in the coming weeks: the Olympic and Paralympic Games, where many travelers will come to the urban territory,” Grégory Emery pointed out .
Among the main infectious risks caused by large gatherings such as the Olympic Games, the Covars (Committee for Monitoring and Prediction of Health Risks) recently highlighted “imported cases of arboviruses and their risk of spread during the period summer activity of mosquito vectors.
Widespread in hot countries and now more distant with climate change, the dengue virus causes 100 to 400 million infections per year, according to the WHO.
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