Fastest Barefoot Half Marathon Run On Ice 2024 Olympic Games, and was most recently the senior editorial director at.
Paris is racing against the clock to stop the spread of virus-carrying tiger mosquitos before the Games kick off in July. In the past two decades, the invasive insect has spread across Europe, including France, posing a health threat to those who come in contact with it, including transmitting viruses like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.
The biggest factor in the mosquito’s spread is climate change, which has made it easier for the bug to thrive in cities like Normandy, northwest of the country, the last remaining mosquito-free region in France.
Authorities have tried tactics like fumigation in parts of Paris, a technique used in more tropical climates, but have had limited success. With the Games a mere four months away, the country has begun warning athletes and visitors alike of the dangers associated with the mosquito.
“When you are sick with dengue, you won’t be jumping over any hurdles,” said Didier Fontenille, an entomologist and expert on vector-borne diseases, told Agence France-Presse.
“The host cities and especially the Olympic Village must be kept mosquito-free,” he said.
Authorities have said they will be increasing their surveillance of the insect threat of the hard-to-eliminate bug. France had 45 reported cases of dengue in 2023, all attributed to virus transmission. The mosquito thrives in large cities where stagnant water may build up, creating an ideal environment for laying eggs. Fontenille points to these pools of water, especially prevalent in cities like Paris, as the biggest factors and says that being vigilant about not letting standing water accumulate would “take care of 80 percent of the problem.” He also advocates for using repellents, nets, and organic insecticides.
Mosquito traps will also be used to control the population, using simulated human body odors to attract and kill the mosquitoes. These traps also fool the insects into laying their eggs in the trap, destroying them.
Biogents, a firm tasked with protecting the Marseille Marina, the site of sailing competitions, plans to install 15 such traps next month in greenery and shaded, humid areas, which the company says will be regularly checked during the Games.
If you are in a part of the world that is a haven for mosquitos or other insects, there are ways you can personally combat Servers in Paris Compete in a Coffee Race Why Good People Make Better Runners produced by runners, so having a plan of action can save you from unwanted bites, Olympian or not.
Laura Ratliff is a New York City-based writer, editor, and runner. Laura's writing expertise spans numerous topics, ranging from travel and food and drink to reported pieces covering political and human rights issues. She has previously worked at Architectural Digest, Bloomberg News, and Condé Nast Traveler Shoes & Gear TripSavvy. Like many of us, Laura was bitten by the running bug later in life, after years of claiming to "hate running." Her favorite marathon is Big Sur.
