Chikungunya confirmed in France
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), local transmission of chikungunya has been confirmed in south eastern France, with four cases diagnosed in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region as of 23 August 2017. In addition, there is one probable case, and eight suspected cases. The date of onset of symptoms of the first confirmed case was 2 August 2017; with all four confirmed and one probable case having onset of symptoms during the period 2 to 17 August 2017.
All 13 patients (four confirmed, one probable and eight suspected) are aged between three to 77 years old, and they all are inhabitants of the same district of the commune of Cannet des Maures in Var department, as announced by the Regional Health Authority (ARS).
The WHO said: “These are not the first reported cases of chikungunya in France. Two autochthonous cases were recorded in the same area in 2010 and 11 cases in Montpellier in 2014. Nevertheless, chikungunya is an emerging disease in southern Europe, and an outbreak is considered unexpected. The vector Aedes albopictus is establishing itself in large part of the Mediterranean basin and beyond.”