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The tiger mosquito continues to spread over French territory. Since 2010, the number of insects, native to tropical forests, has multiplied by 10, and now affects 71 departments, which worries the health authorities.
In her garden, in Franconville (Val d’Oise), Martine leads the battle against tiger mosquitoes. She has an armada of tricks to scare them away, including fragrant plants like lemongrass. But the first recommendation to combat is to eliminate or cover standing water. In the Val d’Oise, the tiger mosquito has been installed since 2021, and prevention operations are already significant.
71 departments affected
Originally from Asia, the tiger mosquito is a vector of several diseases, such as dengue fever, chikungunya, or even zika. Arriving in the south of France in 2004, it has spread to 71 departments thanks to increased travel and global warming, but also thanks to its biology. “Its biology allows it to resist drought, but also the low temperatures of winter”, says Anna-Bella Failloux, entomologist at the Institut Pasteur. Last year, the tiger mosquito was the cause of 64 cases of dengue contracted in the south of France.
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