Warning to holidaymakers heading to France this summer after deadly new virus threat
British holidaymakers may be at greater risk of dengue if they travel to the south of France after a 44-year-old woman was infected there.
Experts have warned that the tropical disease could cause more outbreaks due to climate change.
Asian tiger mosquitoes that carry the virus thrive in warmer temperatures, and there are concerns that it is now an emerging health threat in the south of France.
The 44-year-old British woman, whose identity is unknown, contracted dengue in September while traveling to a small village near Nice.
She had had a fever, headache, muscle pain and red rash for three days, but required no medical treatment and made a full recovery.
Tropical diseases such as dengue, which cause 50 to 100 million cases a year in more than 120 countries, may be heading our way in the long run, experts warn. We could demand wider use of public health control measures such as mosquito nets or bug sprays. Asian tiger mosquitoes carrying the virus thrive in warmer temperatures, and there are concerns it is now an emerging health threat in the south of France
Her case was presented this year at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen.
Dr. Owain Donnelly, from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London, who presented it, said: “This individual was part of an outbreak of more than 30 locally transmitted cases in the south of France in 2022, highlighting the rapidly changing epidemiology of dengue .
“With climate change, especially higher temperatures and more rainfall, and increasing global trade and tourism, we may see more parts of Europe with the right combination of factors for dengue outbreaks.”
The south of France has the right combination of climate, a stable mosquito population and a large number of travelers returning from trips to tropical countries to trigger outbreaks.
It has had several dengue outbreaks over the past 15 years, but the most recent is the most serious yet.
As for the threat to Britain, officials have discovered Asian tiger mosquitoes, whose scientific name is Aedes albopictus, in British ports several times in recent years, but no local populations have yet established themselves in this country.
But tropical diseases like dengue, which cause 50 to 100 million cases a year in more than 120 countries, could be our way in the long run, when we can demand wider use of public health measures like bed nets or repellents. spray.
The British holidaymaker was diagnosed by Britain’s Rare Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) after she visited an emergency room after returning home to the UK and doctors sent an urgent sample for analysis
Relatives she stayed with in France also experienced similar symptoms.
Dengue fever, spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, causes no symptoms in an estimated three quarters of cases and often causes only mild flu-like symptoms.
But a small minority of people experience headaches, severe joint pain, and even internal bleeding that can lead to death.
Between June and September 2022, the Agence Regionale de Santé (ARS) in France reported three separate outbreaks of dengue virus transmission contracted on national territory without patients traveling abroad.
Dr. Donnelly said: ‘To ensure an accurate diagnosis, doctors should consider testing for dengue if patients live or have been in countries where Aedes albopictus occurs, and present with the typical constellation of symptoms, even if dengue is not widespread. is.
“Making the correct diagnosis not only has an impact on patients, but also allows us to better understand the spread of dengue and take appropriate measures to control outbreaks.”