An emerging threat: Mosquito-borne diseases in Europe

Outbreaks in Europe

Tropical mosquito-borne diseases are originally prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions.
However, an infectious disease can spread to new geographic areas, new populations, or
reappearing after having been eradicated. Travel, trade and climate change highly influence
mosquito and disease distribution. Invasive mosquitoes are determined by their ability to colonise
new territories. A considerable increase in the spread of invasive mosquitoes has been
observed in Europe since the late 1990s. Recently, in 2007, the Chikungunya was imported to
Italy before spreading to EU; In 2010, the West Nile Fever appeared in south eastern EU countries;
And in 2012, Portugal reported Dengue infection.

To evaluate the risk of emerging vector-borne diseases to the EU, ECDC issues risk assessments on
outbreaks occurring in Europe or EU overseas territories. ECDC collects environmental and climatic
data through the E3 Network to support predicting the environmental suitability for vector-borne
disease transmission in Europe. Jointly, EFSA and ECDC collect data on vectorsand vector-borne
diseases and analyse their spread in the European Union.