After the passage of a tourist infected with this virus, the center of the town was treated with insecticides to kill tiger mosquitoes which could spread the disease.
The chikungunya came to disturb the peaceful town of Hossegor (Landes). A tourist infected with this virus is said to have visited this surfing spot on September 8 and 9. The man was allegedly bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus in the Var. This department is currently fighting two foci of transmission. About ten cases have been declared there.
For the moment, no one seems to have the symptoms of this infectious disease (joint pain, fever, skin rashes) originating in Africa and Asia. But the health authorities in the region prefer to be careful because the vector mosquito, theAedes albopictus, also called tiger mosquito, roaming around. The Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS) clarified that the mosquito had to incubate the virus for 10 days before it could be transmitted.
Eliminate vector
A race against time is therefore underway. A major mosquito control operation was launched last night in the center of the city of Soorts-Hossegor, the only area that presented risks, according to the entomological survey. Two officers sprayed insecticide in a radius of more than 150m2 to kill pests.
The inhabitants of the affected area had been informed by leaflets and posters. They were also invited to act against the proliferation of the tiger mosquito, for example by getting rid of containers that may contain stagnant water (favorite nesting places for mosquitoes). To prevent the spread of chikungunya, protection against mosquito bites is also essential.
The Landes department is one of the 33 metropolitan departments colonized by this mosquito. However, this is the first time that such an operation has been carried out within the framework of the national anti-dissemination plan for chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses, set up in 2006. The latter is implemented from 1er May to November 30 every year.
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