Europe threatened by spread of diseases transmitted by tropical insects | Science

Insect-transmitted diseases, such as dengue, leishmaniasis and encephalitis, are on the rise and are now threatening to spread to many parts of Europe, scientists warned.

The epidemics of these diseases are increasing due to climate change and the expansion of international travel and trade, said the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Amsterdam on Saturday.

Even previously unaffected areas at higher latitudes and altitudes, including parts of northern Europe, are at risk of epidemics if steps are not taken to improve surveillance and data sharing. said the researchers.

"Climate change is not the only, nor even the main factor in the increase of vector-borne diseases in Europe, but it is one of many factors to be taken into account alongside globalization, socio-economic development, urbanization and widespread changes in land use. to limit imports and spread, "said Professor Jan Semenza of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm.

This point was supported by Giovanni Rezza, of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità of Rome. "Lessons learned from recent outbreaks of West Nile virus in North America and chikungunya virus in the Caribbean and Italy underscore the importance of badessing future risks of vector-borne diseases," she said. he declared.

Global warming has allowed mosquitoes, ticks and other disease-causing insects to proliferate, adapt to different seasons and invade new territories in Europe over the last decade. , accompanied by outbreaks of dengue fever in France and Croatia, malaria in Greece, West Nile fever in southern Eastern Europe and chikungunya in Italy and France.

The authors have expressed concern that this may only be the tip of the iceberg. "Mediterranean Europe is now a part-time tropical region, where competent vectors like the tiger mosquito are already established," Rezza added. In the future, warmer and wetter weather could provide ideal conditions for the Asian tiger mosquito, which transmits the viruses that cause dengue and chikungunya, to reproduce and spread in large parts of the world. Europe, especially the southern and eastern regions of the United Kingdom and Central Europe.

Previously, dengue transmission was largely restricted to the tropics and subtropics because freezing temperatures had killed mosquito larvae and eggs, but longer seasons could allow the Asian tiger mosquito to survive and spread in much of the world. Europe in a few decades, the researchers warned.

"Given the continuing spread of invasive mosquitoes and other vectors in Europe, we need to anticipate outbreaks and respond quickly," added Semenza.

"Public health agencies need to improve surveillance, for example through early warning systems, and raise awareness among health workers and the general public of potential risks."