European Union officials have warned there is a growing risk of mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue and chikungunya in Europe due to climate change.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that because Europe is experiencing a warming trend, with heatwaves and flooding becoming more frequent and severe, and summers getting longer and warmer, the conditions are more favourable for invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.
The Stockholm-based agency said in a report that Aedes albopictus is a known vector of chikungunya and dengue viruses and has been establishing itself further north and west in Europe.
