Chikungunya Outbreak Declared in Réunion, Crisis Management Activated

The Prefect of Réunion Island, Patrice Latron, announced on Monday, January 13, that the island is facing a “low intensity” outbreak of chikungunya, prompting the activation of Level 3 of a crisis management system targeting arboviruses.

According to a statement from the prefecture, the decision to escalate to Level 3 was made in response to a rise in the number of reported cases and the geographical spread of the outbreak.

“Due to the increase in cases and the spread of hotspots, I am activating Level 3 of the ORSEC + Arboviruses + system, indicating the circulation of a low-intensity epidemic,” said Latron.

The ORSEC system stands for “Organisation de la Réponse de Sécurité Civile,” a specific framework for coordinating emergency responses.

Since August 23, 2024, Réunion, an island with a population of nearly 900,000, has confirmed 192 cases of chikungunya, a disease transmitted by the tiger mosquito.

The southern municipalities, particularly L’Etang-Salé, which has reported 90 cases, have been the hardest hit.

Additionally, several cases have emerged in the Hermitage and Saline areas, which are popular coastal tourist destinations.

In response to the outbreak, 120 agents have been mobilized to conduct daily prevention and control activities.

The prefecture noted that this number is regularly adjusted upward to manage the emergence of new cases in neighborhoods that were previously unaffected by the virus.

The authorities are particularly keen to avoid a repeat of the chikungunya epidemic that struck the island in 2005 and 2006, during which approximately one-third of the population, or around 260,000 people, contracted the virus.

Sadly, 225 individuals succumbed to the disease during that outbreak.

As the situation unfolds, public health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.

© Agence France-Presse

Source: Defi Media