Chikungunya in Southern France (Update 1)
21 Aug 2017
A further 2 individuals have been diagnosed with chikungunya virus in the Var department. According to media reports the cases are resident in le Cannet-des-Maures in the eastern part of the department. The first case is also reported to work in the neighbouring department of Alpes-Maritimes.
Advice for Travellers
No vaccine is available against chikungunya. Avoidance of mosquito bites is the only reliable means of prevention. Methods of bite avoidance include:
- Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin.
- The use of insect repellant containing DEET applied to any exposed skin.
- The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets.
- The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
- Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around the home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).
For further information see Chikungunya Fever.