Favorite territory of the tiger mosquito, Occitanie will enter the enhanced surveillance phase from May 1st until November 30th. 4.9 million inhabitants are affected by this scourge. They are the hell of our summers and will be under close surveillance this year. ARS Occitanie is getting ready for battle against tiger mosquitoes before the major population movements during the summer holidays. Because if they have been back in the region for a few weeks already, the massive arrival of holidaymakers, combined with the breeding season for insects, presents a major health risk. In a press release published on April 28, the agency recalls that tiger mosquitoes are carriers of many diseases and viruses such as dengue fever, chikungunya or the Zika virus. Hence the importance of activating, according to the ARS, a special prevention and enhanced surveillance plan from May 1 to November 30. 4.9 million Occitans affected During this period, the ARS with local actors specialized in the issue, will deploy a system based on three main axes. The first consists of enhanced surveillance of mosquito populations in the region. It must be said that the Occitan territory is largely invaded by mosquitoes. If out of the 4,454 municipalities in the region, 1,964 are colonized by insects, i.e. 44% of the cities, they nevertheless include 88% of the total population, i.e. almost 4.9 million inhabitants. The tiger mosquito present on 2/3 of the territory. ARS Raising awareness and tracking cases The ARS also plans “to raise awareness among people residing in areas where these mosquitoes are present and active.” Because it is among the inhabitants that mosquitoes proliferate. Stagnant pools of water on a balcony, garden tools, buckets and garbage cans in the rain or blocked drains are all factors that favor the development of mosquito larvae. Especially since mosquitoes travel very little during their short life! On average, pests move between 30 and 150 m from their birthplace. “The fight against these mosquitoes and their larvae is one of the main means of avoiding the transmission of viruses. It is a reflex to acquire at home to protect oneself collectively”, recalls the ARS. Finally, the ARS will carry out enhanced surveillance of human cases of the diseases that this mosquito can carry: chikungunya, dengue fever and Zika. This monitoring mobilizes health professionals throughout the region to immediately report to the Regional Health Agency any patient showing symptoms of dengue fever, chikungunya or Zika. In the event of confirmation of a suspected case, and after an entomological survey aimed at verifying the presence of tiger mosquitoes, an insecticide treatment is organized in the places where the patient passes. ARS OCCITANIE Despite the low number of cases in the region in 2021 due to travel restrictions, the ARS advises travelers returning from vacation to continue using repellents for a week after their return.