Europe Faces Growing Risk of Mosquito-Borne Diseases Due to Climate Change

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — European Union officials warned Thursday there is a growing risk of mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue and chikungunya in Europe due to climate change. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said that because Europe is experiencing a warming trend, with heat waves and flooding becoming more frequent and severe, and summers getting longer and warmer, the conditions are more favorable “for invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.” The Stockholm-based agency said in a report the species Aedes albopictus is a known vector of chikungunya and dengue viruses and has been establishing itself farther northwards and westwards in Europe. The other mosquito, Aedes aegypti, known to transmit dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, zika and West Nile viruses, has been established in Cyprus since 2022 and may continue to spread to other European countries. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Read More: How Climate Change Became Central to U.S.-Europe Relations A decade ago, the Aedes albopictus mosquito was established in eight European countries, with 114 regions affected. In 2023, the mosquito is established in 13 countries and 337 regions, the ECDC said. “If this continues, we can expect to see more cases and possibly deaths from diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and West Nile fever,” ECDC director Andrea Ammon said. “Efforts need to focus on ways to control mosquito po...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized europe wire Source Type: news