At the end of an investigation by the Languedoc-Roussillon ARS, the toll of indigenous cases of dengue in Nîmes now stands at 5 confirmed cases. They all went to the same neighborhood.
Has the Gard (30), a department in the south of France, become the favorite vacation spot for the tiger mosquito? This is the question we could ask ourselves following the recent detection in Nîmes of the dengue virus in two people who have not traveled to endemic areas, where the virus usually circulates.
But since Wednesday evening, this assessment now stands at 5 confirmed indigenous cases of dengue, all having frequented the same district of Nîmes, and having had symptoms beginning between August 8 and 18.
La Gard at level 3 of the fight plan
The situation led the Ministry of Health to classify the department at level 3 of the chikungunya-dengue anti-dissemination plan. Targeted vector control operations to eliminate mosquitoes and their larvae were thus carried out in this area. “No new case has since been identified”, specifies the ARS Languedoc-Roussillon press release.
The Agency adds, however, that in order to increase the effectiveness of the insecticide treatments carried out, “these operations are intended to be repeated in the days to come in the same sectors”.
Health professionals on the front line
In addition, residents were made aware of simple measures to limit the proliferation of the tiger mosquito, vector of dengue and chikungunya. They consist in destroying potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and protecting themselves from bites, as well as their habitat.
Finally, health professionals have received information from local health authorities aimed at raising their awareness again to seek the diagnosis of dengue fever for patients presenting compatible symptoms “and for whom no other diagnosis has been made, including for patients who have not traveled, ”concludes ARS Languedoc-Roussillon.
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