Reunion Island is facing a fifth indigenous case of chikungunya, this time in Saint-Louis. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) is stepping up its mosquito prevention and control actions on the island. The authorities are calling on the population to be vigilant to slow the spread of the virus.
Written by NP – Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 6:09 p.m.
A fifth indigenous case of chikungunya has been confirmed in Réunion, this time in the commune of Saint-Louis. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) stated that the person concerned, diagnosed by PCR, had not travelled recently and has no direct link with the first four cases that occurred in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains.
The ARS teams, in coordination with the municipal services, will intervene tomorrow in Saint-Louis to carry out awareness-raising actions among residents and carry out treatments around homes. At the same time, the teams remain mobilized in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, where the first interventions had been set up.
A growing epidemic risk
With this new case in Saint-Louis, the epidemic situation on the island worries the health authorities. The number of confirmed cases (four in Saint-Gilles and one in Saint-Louis) suggests active circulation of the virus in several municipalities on the island.
Faced with this situation, the ARS has stepped up its actions to prevent and combat mosquitoes. Residents across the island, including those in Saint-Louis and Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, are urged to be extra vigilant by protecting themselves from mosquito bites, eliminating breeding sites and consulting a doctor promptly as soon as symptoms appear.
Reinforced control measures
In the two municipalities concerned, the intervention strategy implemented by the ARS includes several components:
- Encouragement to consult a doctor and carry out laboratory tests in the event of symptoms suggestive of chikungunya;
- Insecticide and larvicide treatments around outbreaks to eliminate mosquitoes carrying the virus;
- Raising awareness among residents about preventive measures, such as the use of repellents and the elimination of larval breeding sites;
- Distribution of repellents to the most vulnerable people.
Health professionals and emergency services have also been alerted to respond effectively to any new suspected cases.
Faced with this threat, the ARS recalls the importance of collective mobilization to stem the spread of the virus on the island.
