The impact of climate change on the emergence of diseases is well established. This is particularly true of diseases transmitted by blood-feeding insects, of which the tiger mosquito is now a well-known vector in mainland France. The Fondation Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale is working alongside the Institut Pasteur to combat these diseases, as part of its commitment to the public interest and to the regions.
Climate change, globalization and the movement of people and animals are increasing the risk of these so-called "vector-borne" diseases, which are usually found in tropical and subtropical regions, spreading. For example, dengue fever and chikungunya, traditionally confined to tropical regions, are now being reported in southern Europe. In France, spring warnings about the dangers of small insects that feed on human blood are becoming more systematic every year.
Many vector-borne diseases in our latitudes...
While some of these diseases have long been known in our latitudes, such as tick-borne Lyme disease, most - malaria, dengue fever, Zika, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever... - may seem far away. Yet they are closer than we think, because they are transmitted by insect vectors that take advantage of human mobility, warmer temperatures and changes to our habitats to extend their range. The risk associated with the diseases they transmit increases automatically. Faced with these new challenges, Institut Pasteur's expertise in vector-borne diseases has a long history and is recognised worldwide...
Summer 2024: the tiger mosquito and dengue fever under surveillance
While the tiger mosquito is now present in 78 French departments, Anna-Bella Failloux's team at the Institut Pasteur has demonstrated that it can transmit the dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, a fact now confirmed by the regular detection of native cases in France.
In 2024, the number of imported cases of dengue fever in the Paris Region rose sharply, and in the run-up to the Olympic Games, where many international visitors are expected - particularly from countries where dengue fever is endemic - vigilance is essential..
Fondation Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and the Institut Pasteur combat vector-borne diseasesAmong the many research projects being carried out at the Institut Pasteur, one is studying tens of thousands of mosquitoes collected in every region of France, measuring their density and their ability to transmit around 13 different viruses in order to anticipate their emergence. Ultimately, the data collected will be used to draw up epidemic risk maps to guide the decisions taken by the health authorities. |
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