There are concerns regarding a potential epidemic starting at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
With the highly-anticipated competition now about six weeks away, various officials note it could be a “super-spreader” for the mosquito-borne Dengue Fever.
It’s believed that the conditions in Paris are optimal for such a disease to spread, with an article from The Conversion explaining how the Aedes Aegypti mosquito could perfectly adapt and cause an outbreak of Dengue fever in Paris as there are multiple cases happening worldwide at the moment.
“The tiger mosquito is perfectly adapted to the urban Paris environment,” the article reads. “It needs just the smallest amount of water in a small container to lay its eggs. It preferentially feeds on humans, at dawn and dusk. The eggs themselves can withstand dry conditions for months. Once wet again, the eggs will hatch.
“What makes this situation potentially dangerous for Paris is that some of these mosquitoes may have dengue already inside them, passed down from their mother. This could significantly reduce the number of bites needed to start an epidemic.”
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2024 Olympic Games To Be Part Of A “Huge Natural Experiment”
While most Dengue cases from bites are asymptomatic, human carriers can spread the disease upon returning to their home countries.
Dengue fever is responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths every year globally.
According to Newcastle University expert in parasite epidemiology, Dr. Mark Booth, “Anyone living, working, visiting, competing, volunteering or even just passing through Paris during the Olympic period is going to be part of a huge natural experiment – whether they know it or not.”
As to whether the Olympic Games will be impacted by Dengue fever remains to be seen. But experts aren’t as worried about Paris as they are about asymptomatic athletes and other travelers returning home to tropical countries, where they can spread the potentially deadly disease.
