Aedes albopictus (also known as the tiger mosquito) and Aedes aegypti are the main blood-feeding arthropods (which include insects and mites) that transmit an infectious agent (virus, bacterium, parasite) from one vertebrate to another" data-tooltip-title="blood-feeding arthropod (including insects and mites) that transmits an infectious agent (virus, bacteria, parasite) from one vertebrate to another" data-tooltip-content="" data-tooltip-placeholder-is-selection="true" data-tooltip-placeholder-is-selection-text="vector" data-tooltip-data="[{"tooltipTitle":"arthropod (including insects and mites) hematophagous (feeding on blood) that transmits an infectious agent (virus, bacteria, parasite) from one vertebrate to another","tooltipContent":"", “placeholderIsSelection”: “true”, “placeholderIsSelectionText”: “vector” }]">dengue vectors are present in several French territories. In this context, Santé publique France’s efforts focus on two main areas: surveillance and prevention.

Epidemiological Surveillance of Dengue

The epidemiological surveillance system for dengue is tailored to the various epidemiological situations and vector risks in mainland France and the overseas departments. It is part of the broader efforts to combat arboviral diseases.

In metropolitan France, surveillance of dengue (as well as chikungunya and Zika) is governed by Directive No. DGS/VSS1/2019/258 of December 12, 2019, regarding the prevention of arboviral diseases. This surveillance is based on:

The mandatory reporting of all biologically confirmed cases

Any case of dengue—whether imported or autochthonous—that is biologically confirmed (probable or confirmed) must be immediately reported to the ARS surveillance and alert unit by any appropriate means (phone, fax, email, reporting portal) and then reported using the mandatory reporting form.

Reporting criteria:

• Fever >38.5 °C with sudden onset 
• AND at least one pain-related symptom (myalgia ± arthralgia ± headache ± low back pain ± retroorbital pain) 
• AND at least one of the following laboratory criteria: positive RT-PCR OR positive NS1 test OR positive IgM OR seroconversion OR a fourfold increase in IgG levels between two samples taken at different times.