French town begins mosquito control operations as disease rates rise

Mosquito control operations are underway in the town of Bergerac, south-west France, after an explosion of cases of the tropical disease chikungunya. 

The town this week reported 52 cases of chikungunya. It comes amid a surge in mosquito-borne diseases in France over the summer. 

“All the people concerned are in a state of health that does not give rise to concern,” the Bergerac prefecture said in a statement on Monday, September 8. 

Authorities will carry out the control measures, which involve spraying insecticide in the affected areas, during the night of Wednesday, 10 September. 

“This exceptional preventive treatment aims to prevent a chain of local transmission of these diseases,” the authorities said in a statement. 

The treatment will take place for around one hour at some point between 22:00 to 7:00 the next morning. 

Treatment also took place on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Another is planned for Thursday, 11 September. 

Symptoms of chikungunya, spread by the tiger mosquito, include a high fever, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and a rash. 

Anyone with symptoms in an area of an outbreak is encouraged to immediately see their GP. 

There have been more than 300 native cases of tropical mosquito-borne diseases in France this summer, according to Public Health France, the highest number on record.

Some 301 cases of chikungunya were recorded, alongside 19 cases of dengue fever. 

The 2025 total is significantly higher than in 2024, when 127 native cases were recorded. 

The soaring number of cases around Bergerac are thought to be due to a high number of asymptomatic imported cases, together with a high number of tiger mosquitos in the area and optimal climate conditions, the town’s prefecture said. 

As well as over 300 native cases of tropical mosquito-borne diseases, there were over 2,000 imported cases recorded in France between May 1 and September 2 2025 (957 of chikungunya, 862 of dengue and seven of Zika virus). 

An imported case means someone contracted the disease outside of France, then brought it back, whereas a native case means someone contracted a disease from a mosquito in mainland France. 

In Bergerac authorities have given advice for locals who may live close to the areas where mosquito controls are taking place. 

This includes bringing in washing, food, children’s toys, pets and their bowls to protect them while a spraying vehicle passes by. 

People have also been encouraged to keep windows facing the public road closed while the vehicle passes and for one hour afterwards. 

People have also been urged to remove any possible tiger mosquito breeding sites. These are usually found around stagnant water, such as in buckets or plant pots. 

For a more detailed breakdown of which streets will be affected, and advice for people who live close to the spraying route, see the Bergerac prefecture website. 

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