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Chikungunya in Southern France (Update 1)

21 Aug 2017

A further 2 individuals have been diagnosed with chikungunya virus in the Var department. According to media reports the cases are resident in le Cannet-des-Maures in the eastern part of the department. The first case is also reported to work in the neighbouring department of Alpes-Maritimes.

Advice for Travellers

No vaccine is available against chikungunya. Avoidance of mosquito bites is the only reliable means of prevention. Methods of bite avoidance include:

  • Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin.
  • The use of insect repellant containing DEET  applied to any exposed skin.
  • The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets.
  • The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
  • Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around the home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).

For further information see Chikungunya Fever.