Macron visits Réunion Island amidst chikungunya outbreak

French President Emmanuel Macron has visited Réunion Island, which is battling a large chikungunya outbreak. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 35,000 cases have been confirmed, though local health authorities estimate the actual number could be nearly 100,000. On Sunday, a one-month-old child died from the disease at the Saint-Pierre University Hospital. Visiting the island, Macron recognized the outbreak as “a huge public health problem” and met with local officials to discuss the situation. He urged people to take protective measures and said the military has been mobilized to enhance the fight against mosquitoes. He also recommended vaccination for the most vulnerable.
Chikungunya is caused by a virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes. Its symptoms are like those of dengue and Zika, making diagnosis difficult. The virus is particularly dangerous for children, leading often to their hospitalization. Before the infant who died on Sunday, Réunion recorded six other deaths among individuals over 70 with pre-existing health conditions. About 40,000 doses of the recently approved Ixchiq vaccine have arrived on the island to contain the spread of the disease. However, the vaccination campaign has started slowly. Health officials hope that it will gain pace in the coming weeks and urge people to protect themselves from mosquito bites.