France battles tiger mosquito surge amid rising health concerns

Residents of Montceau‑les‑Mines have reported a rapid increase of tiger mosquitoes in the Bois Roulot district, describing severe bites that prevent outdoor activities. Repeated complaints to the town hall in early July received no reply, prompting a local petition.

The French national agency ANSES advises a free, simple method to curb the insects: regularly empty or fill stagnant water containers such as plant saucers with sand to eliminate breeding sites. The agency notes that the mosquito lays eggs in as little as a few millimetres of water within a 150‑metre radius of the site.

In Millau, municipal pest‑control officers conduct home inspections, stressing the removal of standing water, use of screened containers and regular cleaning of gutters. Their outreach has distributed about 20 000 flyers to raise awareness.

Health authorities have recorded the first two autochthonous dengue cases in mainland France, one in Carmaux (Tarn) and another in Sète (Hérault). The cases underline the risk posed by the tiger mosquito, which now inhabits 83 of France’s 96 departments and can transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Local public‑health actions focus on vector control around the patients’ homes to prevent further spread.