Tiger mosquitoes making Europe a new hotspot for tropical diseases
Tropical diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya, could become permanently established in Europe due to the spread of tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus), driven by climate change. Scientists warn that this is happening now, not in the distant future.
Threats that were once mostly associated with tropical regions are increasingly becoming a real problem for the people of Europe. Mosquitoes of the Aedes genus, known as tiger mosquitoes, are expanding their geographical reach as the climate warms, bringing dangerous viral diseases with them.
Recent research by scientists from Germany and Sweden leaves no room for doubt – if global warming is not addressed, Europe will become an endemic region for diseases like dengue and chikungunya.
From sporadic cases to a constant threat
An analysis published in The Lancet Planetary Health shows a clear upward trend. Scientists have tracked the occurrence of disease outbreaks since Aedes albopictus started appearing in Europe.
Over the past 35 years, diseases like dengue appeared only sporadically. However, since 2010, local infections have been increasingly reported. The year 2024, the warmest in recorded history, saw as many as 304 confirmed cases of dengue, exceeding the total for the entire previous 15 years combined.
Heat favours viruses
Mosquitoes carrying viral diseases are increasingly settling in southern Europe. Local outbreaks have already been detected in Croatia, Italy, Spain, and France. Crucially, the time between the arrival of the insects and the outbreak of the first local disease cases is shortening.
According to researchers, this is due to rising temperatures, which support the rapid development of mosquito populations and virus activity.
Diseases permanently in the European landscape?
A phenomenon once considered exotic may become an everyday reality. Scientists caution that the European Union is nearing a point where diseases like dengue and chikungunya will no longer be episodic but will instead become an endemic problem, present constantly without being imported from other regions.
Future projections: fivefold increase in cases
In a worst-case climate change scenario, by 2060, the number of dengue and chikungunya cases in Europe could be as much as five times greater than it is now. Experts believe the most effective defences remain monitoring mosquito populations and early detection of infection outbreaks. However, without addressing climate change and implementing appropriate preventive measures, Europe may not be prepared for the scale of this challenge.
