Due to the tiger mosquito, metropolitan France has a “fairly high risk” of experiencing an epidemic within five years

Zika, dengue, chikungunya… Metropolitan France is exposed to “a fairly high risk” epidemics linked to the tiger mosquito in the next five years, estimated the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) on Friday, September 12. “An arbovirosis epidemic, all viruses combined, has a probability of between 6 and 7, on a scale of 0 to 9, of occurring in the next five years”estimate the experts from Anses.

The tiger mosquito is now present in 78 metropolitan departments. In recent years, cases of dengue and chikungunya have increased in mainland France, with around fifty indigenous cases of dengue in 2023, infected on site, after a record of 66 in 2022. Until now, indigenous cases have been localized outbreaks, where it has always been possible to trace the origin of the contaminations.

To better anticipate, ANSES recommends better promoting overseas experiences and training caregivers in the risk factors and warning signs of serious forms of arbovirosis. An epidemic, even a small one, could also affect the economy, mainly tourism, with less frequentation of the territories concerned. As epidemics are known to aggravate social inequalities, ANSES also calls for vigilance regarding access to information, prevention and care for the most disadvantaged.