First case of Dengue Fever reported in Alpes-Maritimes

Ministry of Health urges public to destroy all potential mosquito breeding habitats

Dengue Fever is transmitted by tiger mosquitoes, which have over the past few years become an annual fixture on the Côte d’Azur between May and November.

Officially symptoms of Dengue appear five to seven days after an infectious bite, however authorities are warning that in reality signs of the illness can first show up anytime between three and fifteen days after being bitten. These symptoms can include a fever, headache, aching in the muscles and joints, eye pain and general fatigue. However, it is also common for the infection to show no symptoms at all and for it to clear up of its own accord; as a result many cases go undiagnosed.

The French Ministry of Health has launched an investigation, which aims to get a better sense of how many instances of Dengue Fever have occurred in the region and on the number of Tiger mosquitoes.

The Alpes-Maritimes prefecture considers the risk of an epidemic to be very unlikely, but it cannot be excluded completed due to the significant local presence of the tiger mosquito.

The Ministry of Health has issued precautionary guidelines for the general public in the hope that it will help prevent a more widespread outbreak of the virus. These include:

- Destory larvae and potential mosquito breeding habitat by removing all standing water
- Cover the skin with clothing, especially in the evening, and use insect repellants
- Use electric diffusers and hang mosquito nets over beds

TD