Dengue in France - Update 2

French public health authorities report continued transmission of dengue fever in southern France. Forty-seven cases have been reported between mid-June 2022 and 23 September 2022.

Locations that have been affected in 2022 are:

• Pyrénées Orientales (Perpignan): 1 case in mid-June.
• Hautes-Pyrénées (Andrest and Rabastens): 4 cases between mid-July and the end of August.
• Haute-Garonne (La Salvetat-Saint-Gilles): 4 cases in the second half of August.
• Var (Fayence): 7 cases between the end of June and the end of July.
• Alpes-Maritimes (Saint-Jeannet, Gattières, Gaude and Saint-Laurent-du-Var): 31 cases between early August and 20 September.

Dengue fever is an infection found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide. It is spread by Aedes mosquito bites and can cause a severe flu-like illness. A small number of cases is seen in southern Europe each year.

There is no vaccine against dengue licensed in the UK. Treatment is supportive only.

Advice for Travellers

All travellers to endemic regions are potentially at risk of dengue fever and should be aware of this infection. Aedes mosquitoes are particularly persistent and aggressive. They bite between dawn and dusk.

• Prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites at all times.

Travellers developing a fever during or on return from travel are advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

For further information see TRAVAX dengue fever page.