James Gathany / CDC Aedes albopictus, transmitter of the virus that causes ChikungunyaJames Gathany / CDC
Europe is experiencing record numbers of mosquito-borne diseases due to rising temperatures, longer summers, and changing rainfall patterns. The mosquito Aedes albopictus, which transmits the Chikungunya virus, now occupies 369 regions in 16 European countries, compared to just 114 regions a decade ago, and caused 27 outbreaks of the disease between January and August this year. France reported 111 cases of Chikungunya and Italy seven. West Nile virus infected 335 people and caused 19 deaths in eight European countries. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) predicts that infections will continue to rise and advises increased surveillance, prevention, and outbreak control measures. “As the mosquito-borne disease landscape evolves, more people in Europe will be at risk in the future,” said Céline Gossner, an emerging diseases specialist at the ECDC. According to her, the situation emphasizes the importance of public health actions and individual protection measures, such as the use of repellents and clothing that prevents bites from infected insects (ECDC, August 20).
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