Health - Chikungunya: A Race Against Time in Rose-Hill
In response to the chikungunya outbreak, health authorities are ramping up their interventions in the Rose-Hill area. These efforts include cleaning overgrown areas, fumigation, and releasing sterile mosquitoes as part of their strategy.
Most reported cases of chikungunya in Mauritius are concentrated around Rose-Hill and its surrounding areas, believed to be the origin of the epidemic, according to Dr. Diana Iyaloo, head of the Vector Biology and Control of Diseases (VBCD). "We suspect that the officially reported case was not the first, but rather that it was reported late to the authorities," she says. This delay allowed the disease to spread.
Detecting cases is further complicated by the fact that some individuals do not exhibit severe symptoms. In cases of body aches, they may not seek medical advice or might attribute their symptoms to the flu, unaware that they are infected. Consequently, a mosquito that bites them can then infect others, leading to unreported cases.
Isolated cases are now being recorded in other regions, but health authorities claim to still have control over the situation outside the main outbreak area. On the ground, it is a race against time. The health inspectorate of the Ministry of Health has identified 96 locations that could facilitate mosquito proliferation. The areas identified for cleaning include Rose-Hill, Stanley, Trèfles, and Roches-Brunes, where numerous cases have been reported.
Inspections are also being conducted in private yards. Due to a lack of human resources at the inspectorate, VBCD officers are collaborating to better coordinate on-ground actions. Several ministries, including Agro-Industry, Environment, Local Governments, and Mauri Facilities Ltd, have also stepped up to support efforts.
The indicators remain concerning. While mosquito density has decreased in treated areas, it remains high in other localities where no intervention has yet occurred. The Breteau index varies from 7 to 15 in certain regions, which is considered significant. "This situation is due to the heat and climatic conditions, with intermittent showers in some areas," explains Dr. Iyaloo, who expresses her concern that summer and the rainy season are not yet over.
Once the chemical treatments are completed, the plan is to release sterile mosquitoes to reduce the mosquito population. This technique aims to reach areas that are inaccessible to other control methods.