In France, Aedes albopictus better transmits the African "Zika" than the Asian one

Researchers from the Institut Pasteur (Paris) have described the vector competence of the mosquito Aedes albopictus from south of France to different genotypes of the Zika virus. They demonstrate that this Ae. albopictus from France transmits the Zika virus of African origin better than the one of Asian origin.

We all remember the Zika epidemic that hit the Pacific Islands (2013-2014) and the American continent (2015). In January 2016, the Institut Pasteur de Guyane was at the origin of the first complete genetic sequence of the Zika virus circulating in America. In February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika epidemic a "public health emergency of international concern." In May 2016, the Institut Pasteur brought together experts from around the world at an International Zika Summit. "Even though only 20% of human cases are symptomatic, this epidemic caused millions of cases," recalls Anna-Bella Failloux, head of the Arbovirus and Insect Vectors Unit at the Institut Pasteur.

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