“the epidemic risk can no longer be ruled out”, warns the ARS

The Regional Health Agency of Reunion Island announced that a sixth indigenous case of chikungunya was identified on the island this Friday, September 13.

This is a person residing in the same district of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains as the first four cases. Diagnosed by PCR, it is currently being confirmed by the associated National Reference Center of the CHU Nord.

With six cases recorded in two municipalities on the island, in Saint-Gilles and Saint-Louis, “the epidemic risk can no longer be ruled out”, warns the Regional Health Agency.

The ARS states that the vector control teams are in contact with the municipal services, to continue their actions in this district of Saint-Gilles. The teams are also mobilized in Saint-Louis, where the fifth case was identified yesterday.

Fever, pain: patients present symptoms similar to those of dengue fever. On August 23, a first case of chikungunya was identified by the ARS, a first in ten years.

With a fifth case identified in Saint-Louis and a sixth in Saint-Gilles, the people of Reunion fear a return of the chikungunya epidemic that they already experienced from 2005 to 2007. At the time, the virus had severely affected the island, causing more than 200 deaths and chronic disabling forms. The WHO had then described chikungunya as a virus potentially dangerous to health.

The ARS asks the population to apply daily preventive measures to fight against the spread of the virus.

She encourages you to protect yourself from mosquito bites, remove anything that may contain water around your home and to consult a doctor at the first symptoms.

• To combat mosquitoes, you must remove mosquito breeding sites (mosquito nests) from your home and around your home every week: throw away cups, small containers; empty gutters, tires, plants that retain water; make water storage devices inaccessible to mosquitoes (install mosquito nets or fabrics, etc.); treat or empty unused swimming pools, etc.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites: mosquito repellent sprays, mosquito nets for children and bedridden people, diffusers/coils, long clothing, etc.
• Consult your doctor if you have symptoms (high fever, joint pain, headaches, extreme fatigue, etc.) and continue to protect yourself against mosquito bites.
• Go to the hospital if your health deteriorates.