Europe has recorded a record number of cases of mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya and West Nile virus this year, a new normal " created by climate change, the European Union's health agency announced on August 20.
Europe is experiencing longer and more intense mosquito contamination seasons, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) explained in a statement. This change is caused by climatic and environmental factors such as rising temperatures, longer summers, milder winters and changes in rainfall patterns – problems that combine to create a favorable environment for mosquitoes, where they thrive and transmit viruses.", according to the ECDC.
The agency's director, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, believes that Europe is entering a new phase where " longer, more widespread and more intense transmission of mosquito-borne diseases is becoming the new normal“.
27 cases of chikungunya in Europe
The mosquito that can spread the chikungunya virus, Aedes albopictus, has now established itself in 16 European countries and 369 regions, compared to just 114 regions a decade ago, the ECDC said. Europe has recorded 27 cases of chikungunya so far in 2025, a new record for the continent. For the first time, a locally transmitted case has been reported in Alsace, in northeastern France. This is a " exceptional event at this latitude, which highlights the continued northward expansion of the risk of transmission", the agency stressed.
Between January 1 and August 13, eight European countries recorded 335 cases of local transmission of West Nile virus and 19 deaths. Italy is the most affected country, with 274 infections.
“ As the landscape of mosquito-borne diseases evolves, more people in Europe will be at risk in the future.", summarized Céline Gossner, head of the section dedicated to foodborne, waterborne, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases at ECDC. She added that prevention is more important than ever, both through coordinated public initiatives and personal protection measures.
The ECDC calls on people in the affected areas to protect themselves from mosquito bites by using repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers, and installing mosquito nets.
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