Transmitted by the bite of a Culex mosquito – the most prevalent in France – the usutu virus attacks the nervous system and can lead to neurological problems. But to date, only 26 cases of human contamination leading to acute infection have been identified in Europe.
“There is no reason to fall into psychosis”, explains to 20 minutes Yannick Simonin, teacher-researcher at Inserm and specialist in the usutu virus. He continues: “to date, only 26 cases of human contamination leading to acute infection have been identified in Europe. As for the prevalence of virus, tests revealed that about 70 people had antibodies to Usutu, which means that they contracted and fought the virus, most likely without even realizing it, without showing any particular signs. “
Facial paralysis
The Usutu virus is one of the latest findings from Inserm in Montpellier. Transmitted by the bite of a Culex mosquito – the most prevalent in France – it attacks the nervous system and can lead to neurological problems. In 2016, a 39-year-old man was infected in France after a Culex-type mosquito bit migrating birds from Africa. “He arrived with a facial paralysis, explains to France 3 Olivier Sillam, the patient’s caregiver. His right side of the face could not move any more. He had ants all over his body, mainly on the right side and small motor deficits. A rather atypical picture for a classic facial paralysis “.
According to Yannick Simonin if “only 26 cases of human infection by Usutu have been reported in Europe”, this figure is “certainly underestimated, due to the inexistence of commercial detection tests but also to general ignorance associated symptoms “. Most cases of infection in humans are probably asymptomatic. “Nevertheless, rare neurological complications have been reported, justifying more research to better understand how it works”, precise Inserm.
Development cycle
A virus of African origin, Usutu mainly affects thehe migratory bird species, such as blackbirds, chickadees, sparrows, robins and a few raptors, including the owl and owl. His development cycle remains unknown, but it seems that these birds are the reservoir of the virus. It is believed to be the cause of several infectious outbreaks causing significant peaks in bird mortality, as in 2004 in Austria. Since 1996, several phenomena of mass bird mortality have been attributed to Usutu in the Italian provinces of Florence and Pistoia, as well as in Hungary, Switzerland, Spain or even Germany.
The most predominant insect in France
The Culex mosquito is the most predominant insect in France. Also nicknamed “domestic mosquito”, it can transmit serious diseases such as West Nile Fever or Japanese Encephalitis, as well as the Usutu virus, unlike the Anopheles mosquito, vector of malaria or the Aedes mosquito (which includes the tiger mosquito) which is a vector of dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. The Culex mosquito does not look like the tiger mosquito: it measures between 5 and 7 mm long and its wings protrude slightly from the abdomen, which is brown and ringed. The female’s body can become deformed when she is gorged with blood. It is besides that which stings the Man.
Se protect 24 hours a day
Like the tiger mosquito, the Culex appreciates rather warm and stagnant water and / or shady intraforest ponds or ditches and it is capable of biting in the middle of the day (unlike the Anopheles which only bites at night). It is therefore necessary to protect yourself in theory 24 hours a day, hence the interest of eliminating the breeding sites of your habitat, that is to say the slightest source of stagnant water, such as the bottom of gutters or even flowerpot saucers. It is indeed in these small quiet corners that the females lay their eggs.
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