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A record number of mosquito-borne disease cases have been reported in Europe this year, with health officials warning that climate change is fueling longer and more intense transmission seasons.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said rising temperatures, longer summers, milder winters and shifting rainfall patterns are creating conditions that favor the spread of viruses such as chikungunya and West Nile.
So far in 2025, 27 chikungunya cases have been confirmed across Europe, the highest ever recorded. The mosquito that carries the virus, Aedes albopictus, is now established in 16 countries and 369 regions, more than triple the number from a decade ago. A locally acquired case in France’s Alsace region was reported for the first time, signaling the virus’s spread northward.
West Nile virus infections are also surging, with eight countries reporting 335 locally acquired cases and 19 deaths as of Aug. 13. Italy has been the hardest hit, accounting for 274 infections.
“As the landscape of mosquito-borne diseases evolves, more people in Europe will be at risk in the future,” said Céline Gossner, who leads the ECDC’s vector-borne diseases program.
The agency urged residents to take preventive measures such as using repellents, wearing protective clothing and installing mosquito screens, while stressing the need for stronger public health coordination.
