A study reveals that the chikungunya virus, a painful tropical disease, can now be transmitted by mosquitoes in much of Europe due to rising temperatures caused by climate change.
Recent research has uncovered that chikungunya, a tropical disease characterized by debilitating pain, has the potential to spread across most of Europe as mosquito carriers thrive in warmer climates. The study highlights how rising global temperatures, attributed to the climate crisis, have extended the season of possible infections to over six months in southern European nations like Spain and Greece, and even permits two months of potential infection in southeastern England. With these temperature changes, scientists warn that it is only a matter of time before the disease spreads further into northern regions.
Analyzing the impact of temperature on the chikungunya virus's incubation period within the Asian tiger mosquito, the study revealed that the threshold temperature for infections is now 2.5°C lower than previously thought, revealing a significant risk not anticipated in earlier assessments. The findings suggest a considerable shift in the geographic spread of the virus, which has previously been limited to warmer tropical areas. The Asian tiger mosquito, an invasive species in Europe, plays a crucial role in this accelerated transmission potential.
Chikungunya was first identified in Tanzania in 1952 and has historically been confined to tropical regions, resulting in millions of infections annually. These new insights about its potential spread into more temperate climates signal a broader public health challenge that may require urgent attention and preparation in Europe, particularly in the face of ongoing climate change that could facilitate further zoonotic disease transmission across the continent.
