France steps up tiger mosquito surveillance to curb chikungunya and dengue risk

Health authorities in France have activated an enhanced surveillance programme for arboviruses carried by the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) for the period 1 May – 30 Nov 2026, the time when the insect is most active. The programme follows a record 809 autochthonous chikungunya cases in 2025, the highest level since 2006, but as of 5 July 2026 no local chikungunya or dengue cases have been reported.

The public guidance explains how to recognise the tiger mosquito, eliminate breeding sites, protect against bites and report suspected cases. It stresses that the “risk season” calls for vigilance, not that an epidemic is underway.

Parallel commentary highlights the broader debate on mosquito control: the species is linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide through malaria, dengue, chikungunya and other viruses. Experts note the high economic cost of vector‑borne diseases, the limits of insecticide resistance, and the promise and challenges of genetic‑based control methods, while warning that complete eradication is unlikely.