Dutch woman gets Dengue Fever in France

A Dutch woman contracted Dengue Fever after being bitten by a mosquito in La Croix-Valmer in the south of France, Dutch public health institute RIVM confirmed to NOS after reports in French and Dutch media.

The woman became ill in August and was diagnosed with Dengue fever in the Netherlands. Her current condition is unknown.

As far as is known, this woman is the first Dutch person to contract Dengue Fever in Southern Europe, a RIVM spokesperson said to NOS. "But as far as we are concerned, it is not very strange. We know that the tiger mosquito occurs in Southern Europe and sometimes spreads the virus. This woman just had bad luck, but we are not going to suddenly warn to watch out for the tiger mosquito in Southern Europe. It is simply rare that you will get stung by one and contract the virus, the chance is very small."

The RIVM also stressed that most people who contract Dengue Fever recover within a week, if they become ill at all. Only a small number of infections are more serious and can be life-threatening.

The tiger mosquito ended up in Southern Europe through eggs laid in imports. The insect has settled in Southern Europe, but not yet in the Netherlands. Though that does not mean that there are no tiger mosquitoes in the Netherlands at all. Earlier this year such mosquitoes were spotted in Westland, Lansingerland, Lelystad, Assen, and Valkenburg. None of them were infected with Dengue Fever.

Every year between 100 and 150 Dutch people contract Dengue Fever, usually in tropical and subtropical areas such as in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South and Central America.