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Video length: 3 min
Insects: how to stop the invasion of the tiger mosquito?
Insects: how to stop the invasion of the tiger mosquito?
(France 2)
The tiger mosquito is proliferating in France. No region is spared. So, how can we stop its proliferation? Response elements.
The tiger mosquito is proliferating. It spoils summer evenings in French gardens. Females are the only ones to bite. In 20 years, the tiger mosquito has established itself in France. Appearing in the Alpes-Maritimes in 2004, it is in Seine-Maritime in April 2024. No region is spared. We are not necessarily condemned to live with it. People have sterilized males. By releasing them into the wild, they rely on them mating with females. They will then only be able to lay eggs which will not hatch, thanks to the sterilizing effect.
Sterile mosquitoes are bred in a state-of-the-art laboratory. It is necessary to follow the path of these tiger mosquitoes. Indeed, beyond the inconvenience caused by its presence, this insect is a health threat. It transmits serious diseases such as dengue fever. In 2023, 45 people were infected without leaving the territory.
Study “chikungunya, dengue and zika – data from reinforced surveillance in mainland France 2024”, May 2024
Study “monitoring arboviruses in mainland France: clear increase in cases of autochthonous dengue fever in 2022”, Public Health France, July 2023
Normandy Regional Health Agency (ARS)
Research Institute for Development (IRD), specialist in arboviruses
National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety
Terratis, a start-up which is experimenting with sterile tiger mosquitoes
Non-exhaustive list.
