Metropolis Braces for Potential Chikungunya Outbreak: Official Warnings Issued
Heads Up, France: Chikungunya on Réunion Island – A Potential Threat?
While the chikungunya virus seems to be on the decline for the third week in a row on Réunion Island, it's a different story in metropolitan France. The number of imported cases is skyrocketing, and health officials are on high alert.
With the start of the year, the risk of the chikungunya virus circulating in metropolitan France is at an all-time high, according to a statement issued by France's Ministry of Health on May 15. The ongoing outbreaks on Réunion and Mayotte islands pose a significant threat of importing and spreading the virus in mainland France.
Since January, Santé publique France (SPF) has recorded over 900 imported cases of chikungunya – people who contracted the virus on these Indian Ocean islands and were diagnosed upon their return to France – compared to a mere 34 cases in 2024. This increased risk is further compounded by the approach of summer, which brings weather favorable to the activity of the mosquito vectors that transmit the virus[1].
"This summer, the number of cases could explode," warns Anna-Bella Failloux, head of the arbovirus and vector insects unit at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. However, one might wonder, with mosquito vectors such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – the main carriers of the chikungunya virus – not commonly found in metropolitan France, what are the odds of local transmission there?
While travelers from Réunion could potentially import the virus, the absence of suitable mosquito vectors in metropolitan France significantly reduces the potential for local transmission.
Nonetheless, if an infected individual were to travel to an area with competent mosquito vectors and if these vectors were to be present, there could be a risk of local transmission. But for now, that's not the case in metropolitan France[2].
French authorities have been proactive in managing the outbreak on Réunion, implementing measures such as vaccination efforts and public awareness campaigns to prevent further spread[1][2].
So, while the risks appear low, it's essential to remain cautious and vigilant. Stay informed, protect yourself, and enjoy the summer responsibly!
[1] French authorities' efforts to combat the chikungunya outbreak on Réunion: www.sante.fr[2] Prevalence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in metropolitan France: www.cdc.gov
- Despite the absence of suitable mosquito vectors in metropolitan France, the medical-conditions associated with the chikungunya virus remain a concern due to the increasing number of imported cases.
- According to the ongoing outbreaks on Réunion and Mayotte islands, the risk of health-and-wellness threats, such as the chikungunya virus, spreading to metropolitan France is significant.
