the site vigilance-mosquitoes.com He confirms that monitoring the tiger mosquito has become necessary in France due to its recent presence in temperate regions. ” The colonization of French territory by tiger mosquitoes is rapidly increasing “And therefore” Rapidly spreading epidemic phenomena The tiger mosquito has the ability to adapt to harsh winter conditions and reappear every year, with good weather, causing new health alerts. It is a potential vector for serious diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and, to a lesser extent, the virus Zika This disease of tropical origin, which spreads in the outer provinces with regular epidemics in tourist areas, can be imported into France by vacationers.This exacerbates the risk factors.This was the case in Italy in 2007 where 300 cases were identified Indigenous people, a month and a half after the arrival of a person carrying chikungunya on its territory.In 2022, France experienced 9 epidemic outbreaks and 65 local cases.Every year, about five cases of imported dengue fever are recorded in Corsica.In October 2022, it was First reported case of infection in indigenous people.Symptoms – high fever, headache, joint or muscle pain, rash – can occur several days after the bite.It is recommended to consult a doctor in case of doubt, especially pregnant women, as these diseases lead to risks of fetal abnormalities during The first six months of pregnancy.
How do you recognize them and protect yourself from them?
Aedes albopictus is smaller than a penny: it measures just a few millimeters. It has a rather slow flight and is easily crushed in flight. It is black in colour, and its white stripes on its legs and belly have earned it the nickname tiger mosquito. It breeds in small dwellings where there is stagnant water: a cup of flower pots, a watering can, a bucket, a still pond, a hollow of trees, an old tire, a clogged gutter, etc … The best solution to protect yourself from them is to prevent them from breeding by emptying these tanks water or by replenishing it at least once a week. The use of pesticides is often ineffective, as explained by the Regional Health Agency of Corsica on its website https://www.corse.ars.sante.fr/les-moustiques-especes-nuisibles :” There are several ways to protect yourself from it, and regular use of insecticides is not the best solution. Even if approved, these products can be irritating and only kill adult mosquitoes which will be replaced within a few days by existing mosquitoes in the form of larvae. These products can also have harmful effects on the environment, notably killing or overwhelming bees who are particularly sensitive to them. The simplest and most effective is to remove all the small water spots in which mosquitoes can lay their eggs and develop. Just empty the bucket and turn it over, clean the gutter to make it easier for the water to flow out, put the sand in the cup There are also natural predators such as frogs, spiders, bats and especially swallows that eat up to 3,000 mosquitoes per day.
How do you avoid stings?
To avoid contracting diseases, it is necessary to protect yourself from tiger mosquitoes. WHO recommends avoiding unnecessary outings in endemic areas at dawn and dusk, wearing loose-fitting, light-colored clothing that covers the whole body, including the legs and arms, and using skin repellents. She also advises sleeping in an air-conditioned room or under the protection of a mosquito net, especially over cribs, or one equipped with an insecticidal diffuser. Spirals can be used outdoors.
