Tropical diseases in Europe increase as continent warms

As Europe swelters in extreme heat, experts fear that rising temperatures caused by climate change could push tropical infectious diseases such as dengue and West Nile virus into the UK.

- STEFFIE BANATVALA

Researchers estimate that chikungunya (spread by virus) and dengue outbreaks could increase fivefold by 2060 under worst-case climate scenarios, according to a report in the Lancet Planetary Health journal.

It comes as Europe faces severe heatwaves and wildfires that scientists have attributed to human-induced climate change. There are growing fears that infections could be pushed northwards into Europe, as pathogens thrive in hot and humid conditions.

As well as heatwaves, rising greenhouse emissions have forced the world to adapt to floods, droughts and extreme cold.

Changing climate conditions are making Europe more susceptible to both “vector” and waterborne diseases, according to experts. A vector refers to a living organism that can transmit infections from animals to humans or between humans, such as a mosquito.