Chikungunya Cases Are Rising in South-West France, What British Holidaymakers Need to Know

What happened, why it matters, and what to know

France's national public health agency, Sante Publique France, confirmed in its surveillance bulletin published 19 August 2026 that 25 locally acquired chikungunya cases had been identified by 17 August across three transmission clusters in south-west France. The clusters are in Gironde, the department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine that includes Bordeaux, and in Tarn, in Occitanie, where a single cluster around Saint-Amans-Soult accounts for eight of the cases. The case count has climbed steadily through August: seven cases were reported on 3 August, rising to 15 by 10 August and 25 by 17 August. 'Locally acquired' means these people caught the virus from a mosquito bite in France itself, rather than bringing the infection back from a trip abroad. The same bulletin also recorded 18 locally acquired West Nile virus cases and a small cluster of four locally acquired dengue cases elsewhere. Investigations and mosquito-control measures are under way around each affected area. Why this matters: south-west France - Bordeaux, the Dordogne and the wider Nouvelle-Aquitaine region - is one of the most visited parts of France for British holidaymakers, and it's also where many UK households own second homes. This isn't a story about avoiding France; it's about a real shift in how these diseases behave in southern Europe. The tiger mosquito, which can carry chikungunya, dengue and Zika, is now firmly established across much of southern France, and where it's present, an imported case can occasionally spark a small local outbreak. What the evidence says: chikungunya causes fever and often severe joint pain, which can persist for weeks or months in a minority of cases. It's rarely fatal and most people recover fully, but there's no specific antiviral treatment - care focuses on rest, fluids and pain relief. The 25 confirmed cases represent genuine local transmission, not a large-scale epidemic. TravelHealthPro currently lists France under 'take usual precautions', the same level as most of southern Europe during mosquito season. Older adults and people with underlying health conditions tend to be at somewhat higher risk of a more severe or prolonged illness. Qurexa perspective: if you're one of the many UK travellers heading to Bordeaux, the Dordogne, or elsewhere in Nouvelle-Aquitaine this summer, it's a good moment to check your travel health basics generally, not just for mosquito bites. If you take regular prescription medication, make sure you're travelling with enough to last the whole trip plus a reasonable buffer, along with a copy of your prescription in case you need to explain what you're carrying. Planning this before you leave is one of the easiest ways to keep a good trip from turning into a stressful one. Practical advice: wear insect repellent containing DEET or a comparable active ingredient, particularly during the day, since the tiger mosquito is a daytime biter unlike many other mosquito species. Cover exposed skin with loose clothing where practical, and use air conditioning or fitted window screens where available. Empty any standing water around accommodation - plant pots, buckets, gutters - since it's exactly where tiger mosquitoes breed. If you develop a sudden fever with joint pain during or shortly after a trip to south-west France, mention your travel history to a GP or pharmacist, since chikungunya can be mistaken for other viral illnesses without that context. Disclaimer: This article is for general information and does not replace official travel health advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered travel health clinic. Sources: Sante Publique France, national surveillance bulletin (19 Aug 2026); NaTHNaC / TravelHealthPro, outbreak surveillance update: chikungunya, France (24 Aug 2026); RUS Tourism News, "Dengue and Chikungunya Spread Locally in Southwest France" (21 Aug 2026).