Over the last 20 years, the Asian tiger mosquito has established itself in various parts of Europe, including France, posing a significant health risk by transmitting diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zikaa. This is a threat to the most digital Olympics ever, being unaffected by Atos' internal problems.

Experts blame climate change for the mosquitoes' ability to adapt easily to colder climates, and authorities recently declared Normandy in the northwest, the last remaining mosquito-free region in France, as infested as the rest of the country. With the Paris Games just four months away, experts warn that a bite from a tiger mosquito could jeopardise an athlete's ability to compete.

Didier Fontenille, an entomologist, and expert on vector-borne diseases, said: "If you have dengue, you're not going to jump over any hurdles. The host cities and especially the Olympic Village must be kept mosquito-free."

Health authorities have vowed to step up surveillance of the threat posed by the notoriously resilient mosquito. France reported 45 cases of dengue last year, attributed to local transmission of the virus. Tiger mosquitoes thrive best in urban areas, where stagnant water is plentiful for egg-laying.

Fontenille said that dealing with stagnant water would "take care of 80% of the problem" if there was a "mobilisation of citizens" to clean up even the smallest amounts of water left in flower pots or saucers. For the rest, he said, repellents, mosquito nets and organic insecticides used on mosquito larvae could be effective.

Biogents, a specialist company, has won a contract to protect the Marseille marina during sailing competitions. They plan to install 15 traps over a one-hectare area of "green and shady, humid areas" next month.

The battle against tiger mosquitoes has become a thriving industry. Qista, a French company, has installed some 13,000 anti-insect systems in 26 countries over the past decade. Researchers are also exploring DNA modification and sterilisation to reduce mosquito numbers.