Toulouse, Nîmes, Nantes, and now Paris… Operations against mosquitoes are increasing. After the 13th arrondissement of Paris and Colombe (Eau de Seine), it is the 15th to be infected with not two but three dengue cases that came directly from Martinique, according to our partners Parisian. On the instructions of the District Health Agency (DHA) and the district municipality, an operation against mosquitoes took place on the night of Friday, September 15 to Saturday, September 16. A manager? The tiger mosquito, whose spread is dazzling, especially in Ile-de-France.
Dr. Louis Lambrechts, head of the study and Head of Virus-Insect Interactions at the Institut Pasteur, explains: Figaro characteristics of the tiger mosquito.
Le Figaro – Many testimonies point to the unusual and massive presence of mosquitoes throughout France. Is the tiger mosquito to blame?
Louis Lambrechts. Yes, the tiger mosquito is becoming a real nuisance and its geographic expansion is inevitable. In recent decades, it has invaded a large number of countries, including France. Arriving in Menton in 2004 and Ile-de-France in 2015, it is now available in all regions except Brittany.. At the moment, 71 departments are colonized, most likely within a few yearsAedes albopictus available throughout France.
What are the characteristics of the tiger mosquito?
The tiger mosquito is native to Southeast Asia.. In addition to unpleasant bites and itching, the tiger mosquito is above all a vector of viruses that do not normally exist in mainland France, such as dengue fever, chikungunya or the Zika virus.
How do these viruses appear in France?
They are imported by travelers returning from regions where these viruses circulate, such as the Caribbean or Southeast Asia. All it takes is for a person infected with dengue fever in these regions to return to France with the virus in their blood and be bitten again by a tiger mosquito on their way back. This person, the vector of the virus, can retransmit it by biting someone else. French people who have not traveled will not suspect that they can be affected by this virus. These are called endemic cases where there has been local infection. In 2022, a record number of dengue fever cases were reported among the natives, with more than 60 cases.
This spread‘he explains also with climate change?
The mosquito is very dependent on the external temperature, it cannot develop in winter. Along with the increase in temperature that we are experiencing, the activity period of the tiger mosquito is getting longer and longer. In addition, when it is hot, the virus incubates faster in mosquitoes, and the transmission of a pathology like dengue occurs faster. However, ecological models predict that it could be established in France even in the absence of global warming. But rising temperatures favor the establishment of this invasive species.
As for the transmission of viruses, one of the main factors is the general increase in the movement of people, particularly by air. Viruses such as dengue can now be imported into France all year round.
Is mosquito control an effective solution to combating the spread of viruses?
Mosquito control is based on insecticides called pyrethroids, which kill adult mosquitoes. This is how we stop outbreaks, but it’s not viable on a large scale because these products are toxic to the environment and biodiversity. It is still better to be exposed to insecticide frequently than to contract dengue fever. When we weigh the cost and benefit, it really is the best thing to do.
What would be the solutions to sustainably control the spread of the tiger mosquito?
Everyone can contribute to the creation of a prevention system that limits the spread of tiger mosquitoes. Mosquitoes thrive in water. It is imperative to eliminate stagnant water that may be present in, for example, flower pots or rainwater tanks. If everyone made an effort to eliminate these sites on their property, perhaps we would already minimize the risk and emergency interventions with pesticides.
More responsive detection systems and stricter surveillance of imported cases should also be put in place. Often people who have contracted the virus do not know it because symptoms do not appear until several days later. A general practitioner who sees a patient with fever and body aches, if he does not think to ask if the person has travelled, will not think about chikungunya, dengue or Zika, which are very unusual pathologies for a general practitioner in Guaiopolitan France. .
Source: Le Figaro
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