Zika

Zika is a viral disease transmitted primarily by mosquitoes but also through sexual contact. Symptoms are usually mild, but the virus can cause birth defects if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy.

Our missions

  • Define, manage, and coordinate epidemiological surveillance of Zika virus infection in France

  • Adapting surveillance to regional specificities and risks: enhanced surveillance measures in metropolitan departments where the mosquito vector is present, and specific measures for the various overseas departments in collaboration with regional units and the Regional Health Agencies (ARS)

  • Contribute to informing and raising awareness among healthcare professionals, local authorities, and the general public regarding prevention measures

Overseas data

In the French West Indies and French Guiana, a Zika outbreak occurred in 2016, during the major outbreak that affected Latin America and the Caribbean. Approximately 80,000 people sought medical care in these departments for Zika virus infection. The vector is the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The most recent cases confirmed by RT-PCR date from January 2017 in Martinique and Guadeloupe, February 2017 in the Northern Islands, and April 2017 in French Guiana.

In the Indian Ocean, in Mayotte, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are present; in Réunion, Aedes albopictus is by far the most common species (Aedes aegypti is present only in small numbers). There has been no local transmission of Zika in these two departments.

In relation to

Chikungunya

thematic dossier

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain.

Learn more

Dengue

thematic dossier

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Its complications can be severe.

Learn more