An invasive species of Asian mosquitoes is believed to be causing the surge in dengue cases in Europe. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recorded 130 locally acquired cases of dengue in the EU last year, compared with just 71 in the ten-year period between 2010 and 2021.
Tiger mosquitoes are predominantly found in tropical countries, but the ECDC stated that increasing temperatures in Europe due to carbon pollution from burning coal, oil and gas are creating an ideal atmosphere for the rise of these mosquitoes.
The agency has detected the mosquito in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.
- UK faces mosquito-borne disease risk because of climate change
- Travel-associated infections approaching pre-pandemic levels
- Mosquito-borne diseases spreading in Europe due to climate crisis, says expert
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.’
Dengue fever is also known as ‘breakbone fever’ because it causes muscle spasms and joint pains. Some of the symptoms are similar to the flu but can become serious and, in some cases, fatal.
Ms Ammon has advised people to take ‘personal protective measures’, adding that ‘early detection of cases, timely surveillance, further research and awareness-raising activities are paramount in those areas in Europe most at risk’.