Local dengue transmission in Europe doubled
Published: Tuesday, Jun 11th 2024, 15:10
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As a result of climate change, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue are increasing significantly in Europe. 130 locally acquired dengue diseases were registered in Europe in 2023. That is almost twice as many as in the previous year with 71 cases.
This was announced by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Tuesday. The figures relate to the EU as well as Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland.
"Europe is already experiencing how climate change is providing more favorable conditions for invasive mosquitoes to spread to previously unaffected areas and infect more people with diseases such as dengue," ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said at a press conference.
Sharp rise in Switzerland
There have not yet been any local transmissions in Switzerland, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced on Tuesday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. The cases reported in Switzerland so far have all been linked to travel.
However, due to the resumption of travel after the pandemic, the number of cases of dengue fever has also risen sharply in Switzerland. Since the beginning of the year, the FOPH has recorded 227 cases of dengue fever. Last year, there were 74 in the same period. In 2022, there were 25 in the same time frame.
Furthermore, the FOPH added that it cannot be ruled out that there could be reports of local transmissions in Switzerland in the foreseeable future. The Asian tiger mosquito, which transmits the fever, already exists in Switzerland. Infections have been observed in neighboring France and Italy in recent years.
The ECDC therefore called for coordinated measures. For example, insect nets and anti-mosquito spray should be distributed. Measures such as removing puddles of water on balconies and in gardens that mosquitoes use to lay their eggs could also reduce the risk.
©Keystone/SDA
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