First two autochthonous dengue virus infections in metropolitan France, September 2010Archived
In September 2010, two cases of autochthonous dengue fever were diagnosed in metropolitan France for the first time. The cases occurred in Nice, southeast France, where the vector Aedes albopictus is established.
G La Ruche, Y Souarès, A Armengaud, F Peloux-Petiot, P Delaunay, P Desprès, A Lenglet, F Jourdain, I Leparc-Goffart, F Charlet, L Ollier, K Mantey, T Mollet, J P Fournier, R Torrents, K Leitmeyer, P Hilairet, H Zeller, W Van Bortel, D Dejour-Salamanca, M Grandadam, M Gastellu-EtchegorryEuro Surveill. 2010;15(39):pii=19676.
Description: In September 2010, two cases of autochthonous dengue fever were diagnosed in metropolitan France for the first time. The cases occurred in Nice, southeast France, where the vector Aedes albopictus is established.
Public Health significance:
This event was not unexpected, as this part of the country where Aedes albopictus, a known competent vector of dengue virus (though less efficient than Aedes aegypti), is established, receives a high number of imported dengue cases every year. French authorities have enhanced surveillance, active case finding and vector control measures to reduce the spread of the virus and the risk of an epidemic next summer. Communication campaigns for the general public and health workers are also in place. Nevertheless, physicians should be aware returned travellers from southern France may become infected with dengue virus or other Aedes bite transmitted arboviral infections (i.e.: chickungunya) next summer.
