Nature, 16 September 2024

Mosquito-borne diseases are surging in Europe — how worried are scientists?

Diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue are becoming increasingly common as the insects that spread them move north.

Climate change is turning Europe into a breeding ground for mosquito-borne diseases, researchers warn. Longer summers, hotter temperatures and heavy rainfall are creating favourable conditions for mosquitoes in places where they couldn’t previously thrive.

Figures published last week by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that there have been 715 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus (WNV) across 15 countries in Europe so far this year, surpassing the number reported in the same period last year and Europe’s 10-year average. As of 4 September, 51 people had died as a result of the infection.