Several mosquito species remain active in mainland France until autumn. In the Var department, the insects have returned in force since mid-September after a relatively calm summer. Current weather conditions are particularly favorable to the tiger mosquito, according to an entomologist from the French Research Institute for Development (IRD). This late persistence of mosquito populations marks a break with the usual cycles observed until now in France.
A rising health risk
Climate change is permanently altering the mosquito population in the region. Their season is starting earlier and ending later. This extended period creates conditions conducive to an increase in bites and the transmission of pathogens. Milder temperatures allow mosquitoes to continue their reproductive cycle well beyond traditional periods.
The extended mosquito season presents a risk of increased cases of viral diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. Health authorities are monitoring this trend, which could alter the epidemiological map of France. The persistence of mosquito vectors until December multiplies the opportunities for transmission and complicates the prevention strategies implemented each year.
