France reports an upsurge in imported cases of dengue fever
82% of cases returned from the French West Indies
Since 2023, the number of imported cases of dengue fever reported in France has reached unprecedented figures, more than 60% of which return from the French West Indies, where an epidemic has been ongoing since mid-2023.
Between January 1 and April 19, 2024, 1,679 cases of imported dengue fever were notified to Public Health France compared to 131 over the same period in 2023. Over this period, 82% of cases returned from the French West Indies.
Due to the very active circulation of dengue in the French territories of the Antilles (Martinique and Guadeloupe) and the significant increase in the number of cases imported into mainland France since the start of 2024, Public Health France calls for vigilance from health professionals to diagnose and report cases to health authorities, as well as travelers as the virus-carrying mosquito activity season approaches, between May and November.
This situation comes as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has warned of a sharp increase in dengue cases in the Americas, compared to previous years. Between weeks 2024-01 and 2024-12, the cumulative incidence rate in the Americas region was 451 cases p. 100,000 inhabitants, i.e. 3 times more than the same period in 2023 and 5 times more than the average number of cases over this period over the last 5 years.
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Health officials advise on the right actions to adopt to protect yourself and avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in regions where mosquitoes infected with dengue fever can circulate are:
wear loose, covering clothing;
use skin mosquito repellents;
use fans;
sleep under a mosquito net;
connect electric diffusers;
use coils outdoors.
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They also provide recommendations when coming from or returning from regions where the virus is circulating:
During the 15 days following return from areas where dengue cases have been reported, it is recommended:
to consult a doctor in case of fever and to tell him which regions you are returning from;
to continue to protect yourself against mosquito bites to prevent a tiger mosquito from biting you and being contaminated, in turn, by the dengue virus. He could then transmit the virus to other people during an bite.