Dedicated terminals installed everywhere: the city of Hyères, spearhead of the fight against the tiger mosquito

Two cases of chikungunya were recently detected by the Paca Regional Health Agency (ARS) in La Crau. However, in the village, psychosis is not (yet?) there. At the bar, several residents claim to be unaware of the presence of this tropical infectious disease. "Oh yeah? Well, if it's one or two cases, there's no need to worry," says Jean-Luc, who emphasizes that "he hasn't noticed any changes in the number of mosquitoes this summer."

" Of course there are some, " he continues, "but as usual, we're not invaded. And so we're not worried. We get bitten from time to time, but nothing alarming, that's life! A citronella candle, and we're safe."

Others are better informed, but not panicked either, like Thierry: " I know that the chikungunya virus has been there. My wife is a medical secretary, large prevention posters are plastered on the walls of the center where she works, right next door. We have lived in La Crau for years, and honestly we are not afraid of mosquitoes, we just have to anticipate with protective spirals and diffusers! "

Franck and Jean-Marie, pétanque balls in hand, have noticed a change: " There are fewer mosquitoes than in other years. In the evening, when we eat outside, we are attacked much less than before, we are bitten much less. Perhaps it's because of the hot weather? Because there are also fewer Asian hornets. "

Thierry, however, is still wondering about possible future action: " In Hyères, mosquito traps are installed everywhere. Here, I don't know if the town hall plans to do anything. Because there's still a risk that the virus will spread every year."

396 mosquito repellent terminals in the city of palm trees

In Hyères, the town hall has a service dedicated to mosquito control. It was created in the 1960s to limit mosquito attacks throughout the town during the summer. "The mosquito's hibernation period (diapause) is increasingly short (one to two months), which requires constant vigilance to avoid any outbreaks between February and November each year," explains the service.

An action plan has been established since 2019, including "the purchase and installation of mosquito traps from the company Qista, via a negotiated contract, in sensitive areas of the municipal territory. On the three-year implementation plan decided by the community, 396 mosquito traps have been installed , " the city continues.

"A collective affair"

The municipality also encourages residents to use the ZZZAPP application on their phones: "It is intended to be fun, educational, and free for residents. It allows real-time monitoring of civic engagement and offers its users the opportunity to establish a detailed diagnosis of their home in order to best protect it against the development of larval breeding sites. "

A way for the municipality to adjust and optimize interventions based on data collected through the use of the application by residents: " The fight against the tiger mosquito is a collective affair. With ZZZAPP, we now have a monitoring tool that allows us to better adjust our public policy to combat this invasive species. "

Other fun awareness-raising activities are being implemented, such as in the Hyères leisure centers with the awarding of "mosquito hunter" diplomas, or the creation of a leaflet relaying the best practices to be adopted by the population (and the actions undertaken by the City). The latter will be distributed in all schools, campsites, municipal reception centers, and hospitals.

Regarding the situation in La Crau, the ARS Paca indicates that "after investigations, the latter is stable and contained. Apart from the two people contaminated in mid-June, no new cases have been recorded" .