Dengue cases in France spark concerns of a possible outbreak
Two confirmed cases of Dengue fever reported three days apart have ignited fears over a possible outbreak in Nice and in the Alpes-Maritimes regions of France
On 11 September, the first case of Dengue was reported, followed by a second just three days later, on 14 September. Following this, the Agence régionale de santé (ARS) [the Regional Health Agency] warned that the region of Nice was on the verge of a possible outbreak of 'native' dengue fever.
With a dozen other suspected cases, and with the two confirmed cases being treated as native - as national healthcare authorities believe that the individuals were infected after being bitten by a tiger mosquito in mainland France - a warning has now been issued over dengue, as well as other diseases spread by tiger mosquitoes, in the country.
More tropical diseases likely in France as the world heats up
The risk of tropical diseases in Europe is expected to increase as climate change takes effect. Over the past decade, the tiger mosquito, which used to be associated with the south of France, has been slowly spreading north, with reports even coming in from Paris. In May 2020, Vigilance Moustiques, a mosquito alert agency, warned that 57 French departments were on red alert for tiger mosquitoes.
As the Aedes albopictus (tiger) mosquito prefers warmer climates and human-made habitats for breeding, people will need to be aware of the increasing risk of dengue, zika, and chikungunya when they travel around France and other parts of Europe.