Southwest France steps up mosquito control after 20 chikungunya cases

A city employee sprays a solution against mosquitos in Saint Denis, Reunion Island, where nearly 100,000 people are thought to have been infected with chikungunya last year. © Adrien/AP

Mosquito control operations are being stepped up across southwestern France after more than 20 locally contracted cases of the chikungunya virus were recorded since the beginning of August, with infections reported in three departments.

The chikungunya cases are described as “autochthonous”, meaning the virus was contracted in France rather than brought back by someone from abroad.