Public health officials have warned that cases of dengue fever in Europe are continuing to rise as climate change creates favourable conditions for invasive mosquitoes.
Figures show that last year there were 130 cases of dengue acquired in a European country compared with 71 in 2022.
Between 2020 and 2021 there were only 73 locally acquired cases in total, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said.
Imported cases are also on the rise with more than 4,900 in 2023 compared with 572 the previous year, officials said.
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, which is known to transmit dengue as well as chikungunya, and Zika viruses, is spreading further north, east and west in Europe and has now become established in 13 European countries including France, Germany and Austria.
Another mosquito – Aedes aegypti – which is a vector of yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses also recently established itself in Cyprus.
The ECDC said its potential for establishment in other parts of Europe ‘is concerning due to its significant ability to transmit pathogens and its preference for biting humans’.
Climate change will impact the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe because of the creation of environmental conditions that promote the growth of mosquito populations, the organisation added.
This year, a confirmed locally acquired human case of West Nile virus infection was reported in Seville in Spain in March.
While it was an isolated case, it highlights that the transmission of West Nile virus can occur very early in the year, ‘likely due to suitable climatic conditions’.
The ECDC said public awareness was needed so people can take steps to protect themselves from dengue and other viruses.
This includes simple measures such as removing stagnant water in gardens or balconies where mosquitos breed.
But also taking steps to reduce the risk of mosquito bites including wearing clothes that cover most of the body, using mosquito repellent as well as bed nets or window/door screens, ‘and sleeping or resting in air-conditioned rooms’.
ECDC director Andrea Ammon said: ‘Europe is already seeing how climate change is creating more favourable conditions for invasive mosquitos to spread into previously unaffected areas and infect more people with diseases such as dengue.
‘Increased international travel from dengue-endemic countries will also increase the risk of imported cases, and inevitably also the risk of local outbreaks.’
Last year the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned that mosquito-borne diseases are likely to come to the UK in the near future.
In a report on climate change, the UKHSA said many infectious diseases are ‘highly climate sensitive’, and with warmer temperatures ‘it is increasingly likely’ that we will see the introduction and establishment of a number of invasive mosquito species in the UK.
A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication Pulse.
