Dengue and chikungunya are set to become new threats in Europe

A recent study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health has suggested that the febrile diseases dengue and chikungunya could soon become endemic in Europe. This phenomenon can be attributed to the proliferation of the tiger mosquito, which serves as the vector for these viruses. This expansion results from global warming, a phenomenon directly linked to human-induced climate change. The transmission of both viruses is facilitated by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which, before recent global spread, were predominantly limited to tropical regions. Rising temperatures have been demonstrated to positively correlate with the frequency and severity of Aedes mosquito epidemics in the EU, with recent dengue outbreaks reported in Italy, Croatia, France, and Spain. However, in 2024, the European Union recorded just over 300 dengue cases, the highest figure recorded in a year. This is in contrast to the 275 cases reported over the previous 15 years. According to the findings of the European research team, the prevalence of both diseases could increase by up to five times the current rate by the year 2060.