The mosquitoes responsible for spreading dengue, yellow fever and Zika are spreading across Europe, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned Thursday, warning of an increased risk of the spread of these diseases.
“Europe is experiencing a warming trend with increasingly frequent and severe heat waves and floods, and longer, hotter summers. This creates more favorable conditions for invasive mosquito species,” the ECDC warns in the statement accompanying the presentation of a report. about the spread of disease through mosquitoes.
ECDC became aware of the spread across northern and western Europe of the Asian tiger mosquito, which carries the dengue and chikungunya viruses.
At the same time, over the past year, the species responsible for transmitting yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya and West Nile virus has established itself in Cyprus “and could spread to other European countries,” the institution warned.
During the press conference, the director of the ECDC, Andrea Ammon, mentioned that the diseases transmitted by these insects are not the only concern: “There could be an interruption in the ‘stocks’ of blood.”
Andrea Ammon explained that since the viruses that cause these diseases “can also be transmitted through blood, if there is an outbreak in any city, there will naturally be a decrease in blood donations.”
The official added that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of invasive mosquito species in regions of Europe that were not affected by this sanitary scourge.
If this trend continues, he warned, it is natural that there will be a greater number of these diseases and also malaria, and even deaths.
Therefore, the health authorities of each country must be vigilant and in constant coordination with the ECDC to prevent the spread of these viruses.
In 2022, 1,133 people became ill (92 died) with West Nile virus infections in Europe. Of this total, 1,112 contracted the infection in 11 European countries. The figure is the highest since 2018.
Infections occurred in Italy (723), Greece (286), Romania (47), Germany (16), Hungary (14), Croatia (eight), Austria (six), France (six), Spain (four), Slovakia and Bulgaria (one each).
Regarding the spread of dengue, there were 71 people who contracted the disease in 2022 through local contagion, which is equivalent to the total number of Europeans infected with this virus between 2010 and 2021, the ECDC warned. Contagions were registered in France (65) and Spain (six).
Local authorities in all European countries can prevent the spread of these mosquitoes by removing the stagnant water sources they use for breeding, using organic pesticides to kill the larvae, and alerting populations.
From a personal perspective, ECDC recommends the use of mosquito nets and the use of clothing that covers most of the body, as well as repellents.
Source: TSF
