European dengue fever cases are being caused by tiger mosquitoes.

Diseases can be transmitted by mosquitoes from one location to another even between people.

Experts have connected the spread of an invasive mosquito species that has colonized 13 EU nations, including Greece, Spain, and France, to an increase in dengue disease cases throughout the continent.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated that favorable circumstances are being created by climate change for the tiger mosquito to proliferate.

Government officials have been keeping an eye on and catching the bug as far north as Paris, the site of the next Olympic Games at the end of July.

The likelihood of additional European outbreaks will rise as a result of traveling abroad, the ECDC has warned.

It has encouraged residents to apply repellant and install screens on windows and doors, as well as to eliminate standing water from gardens and balconies where mosquitoes may spawn.

Getty Photographs In Paris, close to the Stade de France, a guy searches for invasive mosquitoes on May 28.Getty Images
In Paris, close to the Stade de France, searching for invading mosquitoes “Concerning”
Over the past 20 years, mosquitoes have become an increasing menace throughout Europe.

From its ‘base camp’ in southern Europe, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is currently making its way throughout Europe and is considered to be the most invasive species known to science.

As per the ECDC, it has gained traction in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain.
Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, the Netherlands, and Slovakia have also reported cases of it.

Diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya, and the Zika virus, which were formerly limited to certain regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, are dispersed by tiger mosquitoes.
The mosquito responsible for spreading yellow fever and other illnesses, Aedes aegypti, has established a residence in Cyprus. Experts describe its penchant for biting humans and its capacity to spread illness as “concerning” signs that it may spread to other regions of Europe.

In Europe, Asian tiger mosquitoes are moving further north.
Beginning with flu-like symptoms, dengue can progress to more serious and occasionally deadly complications.
The number of mass epidemics has increased recently. Eight cases of multiple infections were reported in France, four in Italy, and two in Spain in the previous year.

As a result of global commerce and population mobility, the majority of cases in Europe are imported; the number of imported cases increased to around 5,000 last year.
However, there is also an increase in locally acquired infections: in 2023, 130 persons were afflicted, compared to 71 in the previous year.

The West Nile virus, which is also spread by mosquitoes, is more common than ever in many parts of Europe.
According to the ECDC, one case of the virus was discovered in southern Spain in the beginning of March, demonstrating how the climate is fostering an environment that mosquitoes may thrive in even “very early in the year.”

Getty Photographs Someone applying bug repellant on their skinGetty Photographs
To prevent mosquito bites, it is recommended that people apply repellent.

The countries with the greatest incidence rates include Vietnam, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The world’s worst mosquito-borne illness is malaria. It is transmitted to humans via the bites of female anopheles mosquitoes, which are also present throughout Europe.

There are worries that, given the appropriate circumstances, malaria cases may rise throughout the continent in the future.