French health officials are reporting 368 additional dengue fever cases during the most recent week, bringing the outbreak total on the island of Reunion to 4292 laboratory confirmed or probable cases since the beginning of the year.

Aedes aegypti/CDC
Aedes aegypti/CDC

Eighty-two people required hospitalization and 10 people were diagnosed with severe dengue. The average age of these hospitalized cases is 50 years.

The epidemic continues in the West and South of the island. In the West, the following data is available:

St. Paul (2328 cases, or 55% of reported cases), The Port (388 cases), Saint-Leu (269 cases) and Possession (273 cases).

In the South, 452 cases, 11% of cases were reported in Saint Pierre and in Saint Louis, 117 cases have been reported.

Other communes where cases have been identified in 2018 include Saint-Denis (91 cases), The stamp (68 cases), The Etang-Salé (52cases), St. Joseph (34 cases), The Oars (24 cases), Three-Basins (24 cases)
Small Island (11 cases) and St. Andrew (8 cases).

Strengthening measures against mosquitoes:

In order to facilitate the implementation of coordinated actions in the most affected neighborhoods, a first prefectural decree implementing general health and mosquito control measures has been in force since 21 March 2018 in the most affected communes of Saint-Paul, Saint-Pierre, Le Tampon, Possession, Saint-Leu and Le Port. Given the significant epidemic threat, the prefect of Reunion decided on May 28 to extend the scope of this decree to all municipalities in the north, west and south of the island.

This decree provides:

The strengthening of the individual control measures by each owner / occupier, obligation to eliminate, on the lands under their responsibility, any object or situation likely to favor the water retention and the development of mosquito larvae, and in particular:

  • Stagnant water receptacles such as unsupervised pools, amenity tanks, domestic troughs, water tanks, etc.
  • Bulky goods, car bodies and tires.
  • The authorization for the mobilized actors, besides the ARS Indian Ocean and the already authorized communes (intermunicipalities, mandated associations, SDIS) to enter the private properties in order to carry out actions of sensitization, elimination of breeding places and insecticide treatments.
  • The possibility for mayors to proceed in case of refusal or absence of the owner to a formal notice for immediate action and implementation of measures to fight the expense of the defaulters.