France, Oct. 19 -- French health authorities are sounding the alarm as dengue, a virus spread by tiger mosquitoes, continues to progress across the country. A record number of cases have been transmitted locally this year, new figures show, while experts warn France is at high risk of an epidemic in the next five years.

Since the beginning of May, the onset of tiger mosquito activity, 80 people have contracted the tropical disease without travelling to endemic regions, according to a study released by public health instituteSante Publique France this week.

This marks a new record, surpassing the 65 locally transmitted cases reported in 2022 and45 in 2023.

It follows a recent reportfrom the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Oc...