France - Two clusters of autochthonous chikungunya cases- 2017 - ECDC

[Gert van der Hoek]

VAR department


24 Aug 2017



This rapid risk assessment has been produced In the context of a cluster of four confirmed cases and one probable locally-acquired case of chikungunya in Var department, in southern France.

The report of a cluster of autochthonous chikungunya cases in areas of Europe where Aedes albopictus is established is not unexpected during the summer months, when environmental conditions are favourable for mosquitoes. T

he risk of new clusters of local transmission emerging in the EU is currently considered moderate for chikungunya and dengue, as these diseases are endemic in large areas of the intertropical zone, repeated introductions occur through viraemic travellers returning from these areas, and weather conditions are currently suitable for Aedes albopictus activity in areas where it is established.

LINK TO FULL REPORT - pdf

[Gert van der Hoek]

Update ECDC:

Since the last CDTR and as of 22 August 2017, two additional confirmed cases and one probable case have been identified.

Among these cases, one lives in the same household as a previously reported case and two live in the same neighbourhood as the other confirmed cases.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Epidemiological update: Chikungunya – France – 2017


sept 1, 2017

On 11 August 2017, France gave notification of an autochthonous case of chikungunya virus infection detected in the Var Department in southern France through the Early Warning and Alert System (EWRS).

As of 30 August 2017, France has reported six confirmed autochthonous chikungunya cases and one probable case all living in the same neighbourhood in Cannet-des-Maures (Var). The dates of onset of these cases range from 28 July to 19 August 2017. To date, there is no recent report of imported chikungunya cases in the Var or Alpes-Maritimes Departments that could account for the introduction of the virus in the area.

French authorities have implemented successive vector control campaigns, case finding, blood safety measures, community measures for personal protection and vector control, and widely sensitised the public and physicians to this cluster of chikungunya cases.

...further transmission in the area is unlikely as a result of the vector control measures implemented in the affected area. The risk for a large expansion of the transmission area is very low.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Update sept 22 2017 ECDC

On 11 August 2017, France reported through the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) an outbreak of autochthonous chikungunya cases in the Var department, southern France. As of 21 September, France has reported nine cases (seven confirmed and two probable) being part of a cluster in Cannet-des-Maures. There are seven men and two women between 33 and 77 years old. Eight of the cases live in Cannet-des-Maures and one lives in a neighbouring commune (i.e. Brignoles).

On 20 September, France reported a new cluster of two confirmed cases in Taradeau commune, which is 13 kilometres away from Cannet-des-Maures. The two cases are from the same family and aged 25 and 65 years. Onset of symptoms were on 7 and 9 September. The spatio-temporal proximity of the clusters would indicate that the two clusters are related.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Update oct 6 2017

On 11 August 2017, France reported through the EWRS an outbreak of autochthonous chikungunya cases in the Var department, southern France. As of 3 October, France reports two clusters.

The first cluster, in Cannet-des-Maures, includes eleven cases (eight confirmed, two probable and one suspected). The second cluster, in Taradeau includes five confirmed cases and one probable case. Taradeau commune is 13 kilometres away from Cannet-des-Maures. There is an epidemiological link between the cases in Taradeau and Cannet-des-Maures, indicating that the two clusters are related.

As stated in the Eurosurveillance article 'Preliminary report of an autochthonous chikungunya outbreak in France, July to September 2017' published 28 September 2017, the virus circulating in France belongs to an East Central South African (ECSA) sub-lineage that includes isolates from the Central African region (e.g. Gabon, Republic of Congo). The virus isolated from the index patient is carrying the E1-A226V mutation. Full genome analysis is ongoing and the sequence will be submitted to GenBank.