Health. Chikungunya: Ten indigenous cases have now been recorded in Dijon, including a child

The number of Dijon residents who have not travelled and who find themselves infected with the Chikungunya virus, which is a tropical disease, is increasing: in its situation report of September 19, the ARS Bourgogne-Franche-Comté now reports "ten cases of indigenous chikungunya, in the same area in Dijon".

As we previously reported, the confirmation of the very first case was announced on August 8. We subsequently learned that other cases of this viral disease had been observed in the Maladière district (crossed by Aristide-Briand and Drapeau avenues).

As a reminder, on August 8, the ARS (Regional Health Agency) of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté reported that a person had contracted chikungunya in Côte-d'Or without having traveled abroad. This is the very first confirmed case of this type of contamination, observed in the Côte-d'Or department, as well as in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

A second indigenous case, linked to the first, was confirmed on August 11. To prevent the spread of the disease, an initial mosquito control operation took place during the night of August 11 to 12.

Then, on August 12 and 13, door-to-door surveys were conducted with agents from the ARS, Public Health France, and the City of Dijon. On August 27, it was also learned that three new cases had been detected in the Maladière district of Dijon.

"These cases concern people living in the same neighborhood, including a child in school. Their state of health does not give rise to concern," notes the ARS, pointing out further: "A possible new case remains in the process of being confirmed . Traps have also been set in the courtyards of three schools in the neighborhood concerned, as an alternative to treatment with products."

In this context of increasing cases despite targeted mosquito control operations (four to date), the ARS (Regional Health Agency) is calling for vigilance. The weather is still fine and tiger mosquitoes continue to proliferate, with the risk of transmitting the viral disease, after having previously bitten an already infected person.

The disease manifests itself through fever, headaches, muscle and joint pain. The ARS also recommends protecting yourself from bites by using a skin repellent, especially in the morning and at the end of the day; it also advises wearing loose, covering clothing and using mosquito nets for newborns and bedridden people. To prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes, it also recommends "not leaving stagnant water in your home."

(1) To answer questions from the general public, the dedicated telephone information line operates 7 days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: 0805 200 550.