Europe sees record outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases

Europe has seen a record number of outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya and West Nile virus this year due to climate change, the European health agency said on Wednesday (20).

Europe is experiencing longer and more intense seasons of mosquito-borne disease circulation, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) noted.

"This change is driven by climatic and environmental factors, such as rising temperatures, longer summers, milder winters and changing rainfall patterns, conditions that, together, create a favorable environment for mosquitoes to thrive," it said in a statement.

ECDC Director Pamela Rendi Wagner said Europe was entering a new phase in which "higher, longer and more intense transmission of mosquito-borne diseases is becoming a new reality."

The mosquito capable of transmitting the chikungunya virus, Aedes albopictus, is already established in 16 European countries and 369 regions, while a decade ago it was only in 114 regions, the ECDC detailed.

Europe has so far recorded 27 chikungunya outbreaks in 2025, a record for the continent.

For the first time, an indigenous case was reported in the French region of Alsace, "an exceptional fact at this latitude, which highlights the continued northward expansion of the risk of transmission," the agency highlighted.

As of August 13, eight European countries had reported 335 indigenous cases of West Nile virus infection and 19 deaths, with Italy being the most affected country, with 274 infections.

The ECDC urged people in affected areas to protect themselves from mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and using mosquito nets on windows and beds.

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