A major public health alert has been issued in the south of France as more than 100 people in the popular French Riviera town of Antibes have been infected with the chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne illness that can cause serious, sometimes long-lasting symptoms and in rare cases, even death. According to regional health authorities, 103 locally transmitted cases have been confirmed in Antibes, marking an unprecedented outbreak in mainland France. In total, 140 cases have been reported in the Alpes-Maritimes department, with 312 across the wider Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, and new cases continue to be reported, officials have warned.
On Wednesday, September 24, the French government issued an emergency “FR Alert” message to all mobile phones in the Antibes area. The message reads: “HEALTH ALERT: Chikungunya cases in Antibes. Message from the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes. Protect yourself from mosquito bites and consult a doctor if you have symptoms (high fever, joint pain, rash), or call 04 97 21 31 61 during office hours.”
Local MP, Éric Pauget has confirmed that the Ministry of Health is supporting the deployment of urgent protective measures to contain the spread.
Targeted insecticide spraying campaigns have also been launched around the homes that are known to be affected, and public education efforts are underway to help residents prevent further mosquito breeding and transmission.
Authorities are urging residents and tourists to take precautions including using insect repellent, especially in the morning and evening and wearing long, loose clothing to reduce the risk of getting stung and setting up mosquito nets, especially for infants and the bedridden, the Prefet of the Alpes-Maritimes said.
People have also been advised to remove standing water from pots, garden furniture, and containers as mosquitoes lay eggs in even small amounts of water.
Chikungunya is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Residents and visitors have been urged to consult a doctor immediately if they develop symptoms suggestive of the virus especially after spending time in an area where it is circulating.
These symptoms include high fever, joint or muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and skin rash.
The Institut Pasteur explained that while the virus mainly targets joints, muscles, and white blood cells, in rare cases it may affect the central nervous system, causing neurological complications like encephalitis or nerve damage, Nice Matin reported.
These are most commonly seen in the elderly, immunocompromised patients, or newborns infected in the womb.
