Dengue and chikungunya, two mosquito-borne viral diseases typically found in tropical regions, are likely to become endemic in Europe as rising temperatures enable the spread of tiger mosquitoes further north, according to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
Researchers warn that the Aedes albopictus mosquito, also known as the tiger mosquito, is expanding its territory due to global warming. This species can carry both dengue and chikungunya, which cause fever and can be fatal in rare cases.
The study reviewed data over the past 35 years and found that while Europe previously experienced only occasional outbreaks, it is now shifting toward consistent disease presence. The risk is escalating as climate change intensifies.
In 2024, a record-hot year, over 300 dengue cases were recorded in the European Union — a sharp rise compared to 275 cases in the previous 15 years combined. Countries like Italy, France, Spain, and Croatia have already seen outbreaks.
The research predicts that under worst-case climate scenarios, outbreaks could increase fivefold by 2060. It also noted that wealthier regions are detecting more cases, possibly due to better diagnostics, hinting that poorer areas may be underreporting infections.
The tiger mosquito is also known to transmit Zika and West Nile viruses, though these were not included in the study.
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