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MADRID, April 16 (EUROPE PRESS) .- Varieties of vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever, leishmaniasis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are developing rapidly, warn the authors of a survey presented in the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), taking place this year in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Encouraged by climate change, travel and international trade, vector-borne disease epidemics will increase in much of Europe over the coming decades, not just in temperate Mediterranean countries. Even previously unaffected areas at higher latitudes and altitudes, including parts of northern Europe, could experience an increase in epidemics if steps are not taken to improve surveillance and surveillance. Data exchange, as well as to control precursors environmental and climatic events, as well as other preventive measures.
"Climate change is not the only or even the main factor behind the rise of vector-borne diseases across Europe, but is one of the most many factors, with globalization, socio-economic development, urbanization and widespread change in land use, which should be resolved in order to limit the import and spread of these diseases "said Professor Jan Semenza of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden.
"The harsh reality is that warmer, longer seasons will widen the seasonal window for the possible spread of vector-borne pathologies and will promote larger epidemics," says Dr. Giovanni Rezza, director of the department's infectious diseases department. Istituto Superiore di Sanitá. in Rome, Italy. "We must be prepared to deal with these tropical infections." The lessons learned from the recent outbreaks of West Nile virus in North America and chikungunya in the Caribbean and Italy highlight the importance of badessing the future risks of vector transmission and to prepare for unforeseen events for future epidemics, "he added.
However, the authors point out that, given the complex interplay between several factors (for example, global warming and international travel), climate-sensitive pathogens, and adaptation to climate change, it is difficult to predict the burden. future of globalization. disease.
Mediterranean Europe, part-time tropical region
Global warming has allowed mosquitoes, ticks and other disease-causing insects to proliferate, adapt to different seasons and invade new territories throughout Europe. over the past decade, accompanied by outbreaks of dengue in France and Croatia, malaria in Greece, West Nile fever in southeastern Europe and chikungunya virus in Italy and France.
According to the authors, what is worrying is that this is only the tip of the iceberg. "The Mediterranean Europe is now a part-time tropical region, where competent vectors such as the tiger mosquito have already been established," said Dr. Rezza. A warmer and wetter climate could provide ideal conditions for the Asian tiger mosquito ("Aedes albopictus"), which spreads the viruses responsible for dengue and chikungunya, so that they breed and thrive in much of Europe, including the south. and the east of the United Kingdom and Central Europe.
Previously, according to scientists, dengue transmission was largely restricted to the tropics and subtropics because freezing temperatures destroyed larvae and mosquito eggs, but longer seasons could allow "An albopictus" to survive and survive. is prevalent in much of Europe over the decades.
The European climate is already conducive to the transmission of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (mainly 'Ixodes ricinus'), with approximately 65,000 cases of Lyme borreliosis per year in the area. 39 European Union and a 400 percent increase in reported cases of EBT in European endemic areas over the last 30 years (partly thanks to improved surveillance and diagnosis) .
In the future, warmer winter temperatures, longer growing seasons and earlier temperate summers could make conditions more tick-friendly and broaden the range of host deer populations, authors. Climate change patterns indicate that by 2040-2060, the habitat of Ixodes ricinus could grow by 3.8% in Europe, and it is expected that Scandinavian countries will run a higher big risk.
In addition, improved weather conditions for sand moths (the main vector of leishmaniasis) could extend their geographical spread to the southern regions of the United Kingdom, France and Germany at the end of the 2060s. "Given the ongoing spread With regard to invasive mosquitoes and other vectors across Europe, we must anticipate epidemics and act before intervening," says Professor Semenza.
He added: "Public health agencies should improve surveillance, for example through early warning systems, to increase awareness among health workers and the general public of potential risks and to adopt innovative control strategies. Community interventions ".
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