# French tiger mosquito spread fuels dengue, chikungunya risk > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-tiger-mosquito-control-efforts > Updated: 2026-08-05T16:16:50.000Z. Sources: 44. Developments: 11. Weekly releases of 1.5 million sterile male *Aedes albopictus* began in mid‑2026, and the programme is being scaled up to tens of millions of insects per year by companies such as Terratis. Pilot releases in Montpellier and Brive‑la‑Gaillarde have already halved local egg fertility, while Bordeaux Metropole has adopted a city‑wide roadmap that maps larval habitats, creates a “Pole of Excellence” for control and trains municipal agents and residents to eliminate hidden water sources. Municipal actions now include anti‑mosquito stations, provision of free BTi‑based larvicide kits in Bordeaux, and promotion of plant‑based repellents and colour‑choice advice to reduce bites. A severe summer heatwave temporarily suppressed mosquito activity, but experts warn that the resilient tiger mosquito can rebound when cooler, wetter conditions return. The Interreg Tiger 2.0 citizen‑science network, active in France, Germany and Switzerland, mobilises “mosquito ambassadors” to deploy ovitraps and submit specimens for egg‑viability analysis, enhancing surveillance across the Upper‑Rhine region. Health authorities have launched an enhanced arbovirus surveillance programme for May–November 2026 after a record 809 autochthonous chikungunya cases in 2025. By August, five new local transmission episodes were confirmed – chikungunya in Tarn and Gironde, dengue in Tarn and Hérault, and West Nile virus in Bouches‑du‑Rhône – underscoring the growing disease risk. Public‑health guidance stresses eliminating standing water in private gardens (which host ~80 % of breeding sites), using screened containers, and reporting suspected cases. Subsidies for mosquito traps in Périgueux and ongoing community outreach aim to curb the vector, but complaints of delayed municipal responses persist in towns such as Montceau‑les‑Mines. ## Claims - New autochthonous cases of chikungunya, dengue and West Nile virus were identified in southern France. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Five episodes of autochthonous transmission were recorded by 3 August: three chikungunya episodes totalling seven cases and two dengue episodes each with one case. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Two new autochthonous West Nile virus cases were detected in Bouches‑du‑Rhône, bringing the total local West Nile cases to four. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The first locally transmitted chikungunya case in mainland France was announced a week earlier; previously all cases were imported. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is now present in 83 French departments and is active from May to November. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Climate change, urbanisation and globalisation have facilitated the spread of the tiger mosquito in France. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The French Ministry of Health issued an urgent call for heightened vigilance among health professionals regarding arboviruses. (corroborated by 3 sources) - In 2025 France recorded more than 800 autochthonous chikungunya cases and 29 autochthonous dengue cases. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: Southern France reports new local cases of chikungunya, dengue and West Nile virus France's health agency confirmed new locally transmitted chikungunya, dengue and West Nile virus cases in the south, totaling seven chikungunya, two dengue and four West Nile infections, amid expanding tiger‑mo 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/southern-france-reports-new-local-cases-of-chikungunya-dengue-and-west-nile-virus ### 2026-07-24: France battles tiger mosquito surge amid rising health concerns France faces a tiger‑mosquito surge: local residents protest inaction, ANSES and municipal agents urge removal of standing water, and the first home‑grown dengue cases highlight public‑health risks. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/montceau-les-mines-mosquito-swarm-prompts-resident-outcry ### 2026-07-20: Fleurus, Belgium and Périgueux, France launch rodent and mosquito control programs Fleurus, Belgium, will run a free rat‑control campaign Aug 10‑14 2026, while Périgueux, France offers subsidies and a “brigade du tigre” to help residents combat tiger mosquitoes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fleurus-belgium-and-prigueux-france-launch-rodent-and-mosquito-control-programs ### 2026-07-20: France confronts rising dengue threat as tiger mosquito spreads The invasive tiger mosquito, now across most of France, is spreading dengue and other viruses, with local cases rising in 2025‑26 and health agencies urging water‑container removal. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-confronts-rising-dengue-threat-as-tiger-mosquito-spreads ### 2026-07-16: France steps up tiger mosquito surveillance to curb chikungunya and dengue risk France has launched an enhanced 2026 surveillance program for tiger‑mosquito‑borne chikungunya and dengue, citing a 2025 record of 809 local cases, while offering public guidance on identification, prevention, 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-steps-up-tiger-mosquito-surveillance-to-curb-chikungunya-and-dengue-risk ### 2026-07-13: France launches Tiger Mosquito citizen‑science program to curb disease risk France’s Tiger 2.0 program enlists citizens to monitor and control the invasive tiger mosquito, a climate‑driven vector spreading chikungunya and dengue. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-launches-tiger-mosquito-citizenscience-program-to-curb-disease-risk ### 2026-07-03: Bordeaux offers free tiger‑mosquito kits as research flags bite‑attracting colors Bordeaux launches free tiger‑mosquito kits to curb chikungunya spread, while a University of Washington study shows certain clothing colours attract more bites. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bordeaux-offers-free-tigermosquito-kits-as-research-flags-biteattracting-colors ### 2026-07-02: France heatwave cuts mosquito activity, scientists explain France's summer heatwave and drought sharply lowered mosquito activity; scientists say heat and dryness force mosquitoes into hiding, but egg‑resilient tiger mosquitoes could surge after rains return. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-heatwave-cuts-mosquito-activity-amid-extreme-heat-and-drought ### 2026-07-01: French towns urge residents to curb tiger mosquito spread French municipalities and health agencies advise residents to eliminate standing water and use plant‑based repellents to control the spreading tiger mosquito. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-towns-urge-residents-to-curb-tiger-mosquito-spread ### 2026-06-24: French authorities launch expanded fight against tiger mosquito breeding France combats the spread of tiger mosquitoes, with Bordeaux Metropole adopting a roadmap that maps, treats and educates residents on eliminating small water habitats that breed the invasive pest. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-authorities-launch-expanded-fight-against-tiger-mosquito-breeding ### 2026-06-16: French researchers release sterile tiger mosquitoes to curb disease spread French scientists and company Terratis release sterilized male tiger mosquitoes in Montpellier and Brive‑la‑Gaillarde, aiming to cut disease‑carrying mosquito numbers despite cost and scaling challenges. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-researchers-release-sterile-tiger-mosquitoes-to-curb-disease-spread --- Cite as: French tiger mosquito spread fuels dengue, chikungunya risk. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-tiger-mosquito-control-efforts