Filenews 2 July 2025 - by Marilena Panagi
The European Union is on high alert. Mosquitoes have attacked the European territory with Mediterranean countries already recording cases of infections that refer to the annoying, and as every summer turns out, dangerous, diptera.
The European Centre for Infection Control (ECDC) issued a statement yesterday calling on member states to take their own measures, analysing the situation as it has developed in recent weeks.
Viruses such as dengue fever, chikungunya disease and Zika virus, which were traditionally considered diseases of tropical and subtropical regions, are now often recorded in Mediterranean countries, with Cyprus of course not being exempt from the danger, due to the presence of the mosquito Aedes aegypti on the island.
In particular, the mosquito species that are of most concern to scientists and health authorities in Europe are Aedes albopictus, known as the Asian tiger mosquito, carrier of dengue viruses, chikungunya and Zika, Aedes aegypti, carrier of yellow fever virus in addition to the above viruses, and Culex pipiens which is the main carrier of West Nile virus.
Aedes albopictus, considered one of the most aggressive and resistant mosquitoes in the world, has managed to establish itself steadily in 16 countries and 369 regions of Europe, a number that has increased significantly from 114 areas a decade ago.
Aedes aegypti, after being eradicated from Europe for decades, is reappearing in areas such as Cyprus, the Canary Islands and Madeira, increasing the risk of introduction and local transmission of the viruses.
At the same time, Culex pipiens continues to favour the widespread spread of West Nile virus, especially during the summer months and early autumn, a period when temperature and humidity conditions favour both vectors and viruses.
In the previous three years, the ECDC says, "there has been a significant increase in local dengue cases, with cases increasing from 71 in 2022 to 130 in 2023 and reaching 304 in 2024. At the same time, the cases of West Nile virus amounted to 1,436, scattered in 212 regions and 19 countries in Europe."
The higher temperatures, already recorded in many European countries this summer, "prolong the period in which mosquitoes are active, increasing the duration and intensity of transmission" of the viruses they carry.
Indicative is the example of France, where by June 2025, six cases of domestic transmission of the chikungunya virus had been reported, with symptoms appearing since the end of May, which indicates an earlier start of the transmission period than in previous years.
At the European level, countries such as Belgium, Germany and Greece are on alert.
Cyprus, according to the ECDC classification, is classified at risk level 2b for dengue fever, Zika virus and chikungunya. This level indicates areas where Aedes vectors are established and there are favourable conditions for the transmission of viruses.
Cyprus is one of the EU regions where Aedes aegypti, the carrier of yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika, has resurfaced since 2022. In addition, Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is established in many areas of Cyprus.
