Chikungunya Outbreak Leads to Emergency Measures in La Réunion
A white plan has been initiated to bolster healthcare resources as vaccination efforts commence amid rising case numbers.
The white plan, a protocol allowing hospitals to postpone certain operations and recall staff on leave, has been activated in La Réunion in response to a significant increase in chikungunya cases.
A vaccination campaign is set to begin on Monday, with peak epidemic conditions anticipated by mid-April.
The regional University Hospital (CHU) of La Réunion reported heightened pressure due to a substantial rise in the number of patients requiring care.
This situation is further exacerbated by high emergency activity at both of its sites, located in Saint-Denis in the north and Saint-Pierre in the south.
Despite the addition of extra hospital beds, the hospital has noted a saturation of its capacity and a growing strain on human resources, with elevated absenteeism linked to the chikungunya outbreak.
As part of the vaccination effort, which targets individuals aged 65 and older with co-morbidities, approximately 40,000 doses of the Ixchiq vaccine have arrived on the island.
Manuel Valls, the Minister of Overseas Territories, highlighted the impending critical weeks ahead, affirming that preliminary efforts to combat chikungunya are ongoing.
Eligible individuals may receive vaccinations free of charge through healthcare providers including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
Since the outbreak began in August 2024, more than 20,000 cases have been reported, the majority occurring this year, with nearly 6,000 new cases confirmed in the week of March 17 to 23. The chikungunya virus is transmitted by the Aedes albopictus mosquito, commonly known as the tiger mosquito.
Two fatalities, involving individuals aged 86 and 96, have been officially attributed to the virus.
Additionally, the health authority has reported 31 severe cases, with half affecting infants.
In nearby Mayotte, the chikungunya outbreak is also progressing, with a total of 12 cases reported but no hospitalizations required.
The local health authority confirmed the first case on March 5 and noted the first indigenous case was detected on March 26.
The Ixchiq vaccine, developed by the Franco-Austrian company Valneva, secured its marketing authorization from European regulators in June 2024. The current chikungunya outbreak, while severe, is not projected to reach the magnitude of the 2005-2006 epidemic, which affected 260,000 individuals and resulted in over 200 deaths.
The last activation of the white plan in La Réunion occurred in January 2022 due to a surge of COVID-19 cases, lasting nearly a month.
After addressing the situation in La Réunion, Valls is scheduled to visit Mayotte, which is still coping with challenges following Cyclone Chido in December that resulted in at least 40 fatalities.
A legislative proposal aimed at restructuring the archipelago will be reviewed in the Senate on May 19, following the implementation of an emergency law for reconstruction initiated in late February.
A vaccination campaign is set to begin on Monday, with peak epidemic conditions anticipated by mid-April.
The regional University Hospital (CHU) of La Réunion reported heightened pressure due to a substantial rise in the number of patients requiring care.
This situation is further exacerbated by high emergency activity at both of its sites, located in Saint-Denis in the north and Saint-Pierre in the south.
Despite the addition of extra hospital beds, the hospital has noted a saturation of its capacity and a growing strain on human resources, with elevated absenteeism linked to the chikungunya outbreak.
As part of the vaccination effort, which targets individuals aged 65 and older with co-morbidities, approximately 40,000 doses of the Ixchiq vaccine have arrived on the island.
Manuel Valls, the Minister of Overseas Territories, highlighted the impending critical weeks ahead, affirming that preliminary efforts to combat chikungunya are ongoing.
Eligible individuals may receive vaccinations free of charge through healthcare providers including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
Since the outbreak began in August 2024, more than 20,000 cases have been reported, the majority occurring this year, with nearly 6,000 new cases confirmed in the week of March 17 to 23. The chikungunya virus is transmitted by the Aedes albopictus mosquito, commonly known as the tiger mosquito.
Two fatalities, involving individuals aged 86 and 96, have been officially attributed to the virus.
Additionally, the health authority has reported 31 severe cases, with half affecting infants.
In nearby Mayotte, the chikungunya outbreak is also progressing, with a total of 12 cases reported but no hospitalizations required.
The local health authority confirmed the first case on March 5 and noted the first indigenous case was detected on March 26.
The Ixchiq vaccine, developed by the Franco-Austrian company Valneva, secured its marketing authorization from European regulators in June 2024. The current chikungunya outbreak, while severe, is not projected to reach the magnitude of the 2005-2006 epidemic, which affected 260,000 individuals and resulted in over 200 deaths.
The last activation of the white plan in La Réunion occurred in January 2022 due to a surge of COVID-19 cases, lasting nearly a month.
After addressing the situation in La Réunion, Valls is scheduled to visit Mayotte, which is still coping with challenges following Cyclone Chido in December that resulted in at least 40 fatalities.
A legislative proposal aimed at restructuring the archipelago will be reviewed in the Senate on May 19, following the implementation of an emergency law for reconstruction initiated in late February.
