Heating Up: Tiger Mosquitoes and the Emergence of Dengue and Chikungunya in Europe
Global warming could potentially establish dengue and chikungunya as endemic diseases in Europe, according to recent research findings.
In the scorching heat of global warming, the dastardly duo of diseases, dengue and chikungunya, are lurking to establish a chronic presence in our backyard - Europe. The sinister tiger mosquitoes, notorious carriers of these diseases, are advancing northwards, expanding their territory, thanks to human-induced climate change.
These pesky mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are the culprits spreading these tropical diseases hitherto confined to warmer regions. The latter, known as the tiger mosquito, is on a rampage, venturing further north as the temperatures soar.
A chilling new study published in Lancet Planetary Health takes a deep dive into the factors shaping the spread of these diseases in Europe over the past 35 years, with climate change taking center stage.
Outbreaks of these diseases have been steadily increasing since 2010, coinciding with rising temperatures. Despite 2024, the hottest year on record, only slightly more (300) cases of dengue were recorded in the European Union compared to the previous 15 years. Yet, these diseases have already struck Italy, Croatia, France, and Spain, with more outbreaks expected in the near future.
Researchers warn that our sun-drenched continent is edging towards an endemic state for these diseases, with each degree of mercury rise bringing us closer to a mosquito-borne disaster. Under the worst-case climate change scenarios, outbreaks of both diseases could rise five-fold by 2060.
Intriguingly, outbreaks have predominantly been detected in wealthier regions, implying that testing capabilities are on point. But, the researchers also suggest that cases could be going undetected in poorer areas due to inadequate testing.
The island of Reunion, a slice of France in the Indian Ocean, has recently faced a deadly chikungunya outbreak. With tiger mosquitoes also able to transmit other menaces like Zika and West Nile viruses, Europe better buckle up for the onslaught to come.
As these diseases march forward, we must bolster our surveillance and public health defenses to tackle these emerging threats and keep the tiger mosquitoes at bay.
- The alarming surge in cases of dengue and chikungunya in Europe over the past decade can largely be attributed to climate change, which has allowed the tiger mosquitoes, known carriers of these diseases, to expand their northern territory.
- As the environment continues to change due to climate change, Europe could potentially become endemic to dengue and chikungunya, contributing to a marked increase in both diseases by 2060 if current trends continue.
- In addition to the documented cases of dengue and chikungunya in wealthier regions, there may be undetected cases in less affluent areas due to inadequate testing resources, potentially leading to a larger public health crisis.
