Dijon. Door-to-door surveys after two cases of chikungunya: "We must break the chains of transmission"

"We absolutely must break the chains of chikungunya transmission and prevent outbreaks from appearing everywhere," said Bertrand Daniel, from the Côte-d'Or territorial health-environment unit at the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regional Health Agency (ARS BFC). On Wednesday, August 13, alongside Élise Mathieu, a hospital pharmacy intern on placement at the ARS, the two agents were among six pairs who, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., for the second day in a row, went door-to-door in the Maladière district of Dijon.

Indeed, it is in this area of the Burgundian capital where, in recent days, two indigenous cases of chikungunya have been confirmed: the first on Friday, August 8 , the second on Monday, August 11. To prevent the spread of the disease, a mosquito control operation took place during the night from Monday to Tuesday. Then, during Tuesday and Wednesday, door-to-door surveys took place with agents from the ARS, Public Health France and the City of Dijon.

"The goal of door-to-door campaigns is complementary to mosquito control, to prevent further cases of chikungunya," say Marie Vasseur, a public health doctor at the ARS, and Graziella Midelet, head of the Côte-d'Or territorial health-environment unit at the ARS. This is done by "reminding people of the preventive measures ( read elsewhere )", "determining whether people have symptoms", giving practical steps "to act appropriately", etc. "If we look at the period since July ^1st to try to identify all the cases in the outbreak, we can imagine that there will still be cases occurring in the coming weeks," explains Marie Vasseur. "So, when you have the signs (mainly fever, joint pain and possibly headaches), you really need to consult your doctor and have a laboratory test done to see if you have chikungunya or not." It is with knowledge of all cases that we can truly adapt measures to try to stop transmission."

Among the people visited at home this Wednesday by specialist agents, Adeline, a mother from the Maladière district, found the door-to-door operation "very good." "Many people are not, or are poorly, informed," she said. "I admit that I didn't think chikungunya could reach our home... I'm fine, I know how to protect myself and my children. But for those who don't know, the door-to-door campaign is useful." (1)

Residents, who we met casually in the neighborhood, also shared their feelings. "I think the authorities could set up mosquito traps," Philippe said. "We don't have any. While the door-to-door approach is good, I think it lacked prevention before." Laëtitia said she had been "worried since May, because the mosquitoes were already there..." "Today, for so many ARS people to be deployed in the neighborhood, I don't think there are only two cases..." Another resident did not hide his astonishment at these cases. "It's alarming to have cases here," he said. "Despite everything, I'm a little reassured that the authorities are there."

(1) When the residents visited were not there, several explanatory documents were distributed in the mailboxes.