‘Citizens’ mobilisation’Health authorities have promised “increased surveillance” of the mosquito threat, which has been notoriously difficult to eliminate.France reported 45 dengue cases last year, attributed to local virus transmission.Tiger mosquitoes are happiest in cities, where an abundant presence of stagnant water creates ideal conditions for laying their eggs.Fontenille said dealing with stagnant water would “take care of 80 percent of the problem” if there was a “citizens’ mobilisation” to clean up even smallest amounts of water left in flower bowls or saucers.For the rest, he said, repellents, mosquito nets and organic insecticides used on mosquito larvae could be effective.Mosquito traps also show promise, using simulated human body odours to attract, and then kill, the mosquitoes.A variation consists of fooling the insects into laying their eggs in the trap, where they are destroyed.Biogents, a specialist firm, said it won a public bid to protect the Marseille Marina, site of sailing competitions, with its plan to install 15 traps.
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