Mosquito That Spreads Dengue Moving Into Europe

Dengue fever, a viral disease transmitted by the Asian tiger mosquito, is likely to expand into northern and western Europe as climate change extends the mosquito’s habitat, according to a new study published in Global Change Biology.

Most people recover from Dengue fever, but some cases can lead to severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and even death. The Asian tiger mosquito, which arrived in Albania in 1979, has since spread through Southwest Europe and is now advancing northward in France.

Researchers used modelling and observational data to show that with projected climate conditions, major Western European cities, including London, Vienna, Strasbourg, and Frankfurt, could provide suitable environments for the mosquito. While the species is not yet present in these cities, its rate of northward expansion in France has accelerated from six kilometres per year in 2006 to 20 kilometres per year in 2024.

Andrea Radici, PhD, of the Université de Montpellier, France, said: “Extrapolating from the results, it is estimated that the mosquito could establish itself in northern France within a decade, from where it could easily reach London, which is already climatically suitable for hosting this vector.”

The Asian tiger mosquito also carries Zika and chikungunya viruses, highlighting the broader public health risk associated with its spread.