Public Health France has announced the detection of the first locally acquired case of chikungunya this year in mainland France. Identified in the Tarn department, this case involves a person infected locally, without having traveled to an area where the virus is usually circulating. This is the first evidence of the virus circulating in mainland France since the start of the 2026 season.
The health agency indicates that, until now, the recorded cases were exclusively imported, involving travelers returning from countries affected by chikungunya. This new infection confirms that the tiger mosquito, established in several French regions, is now responsible for local transmission of the virus.
Increased surveillance against mosquito-borne diseases
Public Health France has also reported a second locally acquired case of West Nile virus in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, following a first case detected in mid-July in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. This virus, primarily transmitted by mosquitoes after circulating among birds, can cause neurological complications in its most severe forms.
Between May 1st and July 26th, health authorities recorded 87 imported cases of chikungunya, 261 cases of dengue fever, and 9 cases of Zika in mainland France. Faced with the increase in vector-borne diseases, authorities are reiterating the importance of limiting stagnant water, using insect repellent, and protecting oneself from mosquito bites, particularly in departments where the tiger mosquito is now well established.
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