Categories: Health

July 12, 2024 France registers its first case of local dengue fever this year.

July 12, 2024

Public Health Agency France (Santé Pública France -SPF-) notified First case of indigenous peoples from dengue. This was reported in the region. Occitaniain the department Ero and two possible locations are being investigated: Montpellier or Perolles. Symptoms of the disease appeared on June 17.

On 8 July, France informed the ECDC and the public of a local case of dengue fever. The patient had symptoms on 17 June, had no travel history and was exposed in the Occitanie region. The case was registered and confirmed by the French National Reference Laboratory for Arboviruses. The French Public Health Agency notified that the case was registered in the Occitanie region, in the Hérault department, and that two possible exposure sites were being investigated: Montpellier or Pérols.

ECDC assessment

This is the first indigenous case of dengue reported in Europe in 2024. Although this case occurred early in the season, it is not unusual (in 2022, the earliest case with symptom onset was 12 June). In 2023, France reported nine outbreaks, involving a total of 45 human cases of indigenous dengue virus. In 2022, France also reported nine outbreaks, involving a total of 65 indigenous cases of dengue, which is the highest number of cases and local outbreaks in the EU/EEA this century to date.

In Europe, the dengue virus is transmitted by mosquito vectors. Aedes albopictus

which is established in most of Europe. In the past, local outbreaks of dengue have been reported in France, Italy, Spain and Croatia.

Actions

Investigations are ongoing and vector control measures have been taken. French public health authorities have taken appropriate measures to prevent transmission via substances of human origin.