Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Endemic in South Asia and Africa, it causes acute joint pain (especially in the wrists, fingers, ankles and feet) as well as headaches, fever, significant muscle pain, conjunctivitis , even gingival bleeding.
In France, 30 departments “bring together all the conditions conducive to the emergence of chikungunya” according to the Pasteur Institute: presence of the tiger mosquito, temperature and humidity favorable to the hatching of eggs, presence of travelers returning from regions where the virus circulates …
This Friday, August 11, 2017, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the Var prefecture confirmed a case of “native” chikungunya in the Var region. This means that the patient fell ill “on national territory and did not travel to a contaminated area in the 15 days preceding the appearance of symptoms”. Good news: the person affected (who lives in the Var but worked in the Alpes-Maritimes department) “is taken care of by his attending physician and his state of health does not inspire any concern”.
The Var department on level 2 alert
As a precaution, the Var department has been placed in level 2 of the national tiger mosquito control plan. “The place of residence of the affected person and the places he frequented have been mosquito-removed.
The objective is to eliminate breeding sites and adult mosquitoes, to avoid any risk of spreading the virus. At the same time, hospitals, doctors and medical analysis laboratories “are mobilized to identify people who could present the symptoms of chikungunya and report them to the ARS”.
In the presence of “suggestive symptoms” (disabling joint pain, high fever that suddenly appeared, etc.), the health authorities recommend that you consult your doctor immediately.
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