The challenges of mosquito control: Paris 2023 Conference

11 December 2023

The 7th Paris Conference took place on 29 November, a unique event organised by the International Economic Forum of the Americas. This annual meeting brings together business leaders and high-level decision-makers to discuss subjects as varied as the economy, geopolitics and the ecological transition.

At the heart of this event, Pierre Bellagambi, our CEO, shared the stage with Thierry Dassault, Managing Director of the Marcel Dassault Industrial Group, on a seemingly unusual theme: “Mosquitoes take to the road”. This captivating exchange provided an in-depth look at the history and little-known issues involved in the fight against mosquitoes, which are vectors of disease.

THE MOSQUITO: a growing global threat

Mosquitoes are the most deadly animal in the world: on average, almost 800,000 people die every year from the diseases they transmit, such as malaria, Dengue fever and Zika.

Despite its limited range of movement, the mosquito spreads rapidly around the world by “taking transport”: cars, containers, tyres, etc.

The tiger mosquito arrived in France in 2004, via Menton. It has now colonised 71 department, representing 45 million French people potentially in direct contact with this biting insect. This rapid development is supported by global warming, which provides mosquitoes with ideal conditions in which to thrive, over an increasingly long seasonal period.

Last October, the first case of dengue fever was recorded in the Paris region. With the 2024 Olympic Games just around the corner, mosquitoes can quickly become a major health and economic challenge for France.

the economic impact of mosquitoes, an underestimated issue

The economic stakes of mosquitoes were at the heart of the discussions between Pierre Bellagambi and Thierry Dassault. The subject was illustrated by the striking example of the Panama Canal building site, where progress was hampered by the spread of diseases such as malaria.

The tropical climate of the Isthmus of Panama was conducive to the proliferation of mosquitoes, which had an impact on the progress of the work. As a result, during the French work to build the canal, the workforce suffered considerable losses, with a mortality rate of 4 people for every 100 employeesin 1886. Completion of the canal seemed impossible at the time, hampered by the ravages of mosquito-borne diseases.

It was only with the arrival of the Americans, succeeding the French in the canal works, that drastic measures were taken to clean up the area. These included drainage, clearing, trapping and netting. These initiatives paid off, with yellow fever disappearing from the canal by the end of 1905.

This historical lesson highlights the significant economic impact of mosquitoes and the need for a proactive approach to prevent such issues.

In a context where traditional methods such as BTI and deltamethrin are revealing their environmental and toxic limits, an integrated pest management approachis becoming essential. Respecting ecological, economic and toxicological requirements, this strategy is becoming essential for sustainable mosquito control action.

Integrated mosquito control: French innovation in action

Pierre Bellagambi emphasises the importance of French innovation, which already offers solutions in line with the integrated pest management approach.

Supported by the French Ministry for the Environment, QISTA is one of the initiatives contributing to sustainable mosquito control.

The QISTA mosquito trap offers ecosystem-friendly mosquito control,reducing nuisance in areas frequented by humans by up to 88%. This innovation specifically targets female mosquitoes, preserving other insects essential to the ecological balance.

With its dual curative and preventive action , thanks to

The Paris 2023 Conference provided an exceptional forum for addressing the global challenges of mosquito control. It highlighted the urgent need for innovative solutions, like QISTA, in the quest for a healthier and more resilient future. At QISTA, we are very proud to have participated in this event and we sincerely thank Mr Thierry DASSAULT and the entire team at the International Economic Forum of the Americas for this opportunity for enriching exchanges.

Discover the discussions at the Paris 2023 Conference on the theme “Mosquitoes take to the car” by watching the video here.