International Courant
2 hours in the past
By Philippa Roxby, Well being reporter
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Mosquitoes can unfold ailments from individual to individual and from place to put
An invasive mosquito species has been present in 13 international locations within the EU, together with France, Spain and Greece, with consultants linking their discovery to an increase in dengue fever in Europe.
Local weather change is creating favorable situations for the unfold of the tiger mosquito, in line with the European Middle for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC).
As far north as Paris, the place the Olympic Video games will happen on the finish of July, authorities have been monitoring and capturing the insect.
The ECDC has warned that worldwide journey will additional improve the chance of extra European outbreaks.
It has suggested folks to take away stagnant water from gardens or balconies, the place mosquitoes can breed, and use insect repellents and mosquito nets at night time.
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Attempting to find invasive mosquitoes in Paris, close to the Stade de France
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Mosquitoes have turn out to be an growing menace in Europe over the previous twenty years.
The Asian tiger mosquito, aedes albopictusbelieved to be essentially the most invasive mosquito species on this planet, is now spreading throughout Europe from its southern European ‘base camp’.
In line with the ECDC, it’s now established in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.
It has additionally been recorded in Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Slovakia.
Tiger mosquitoes unfold ailments similar to dengue fever, chikungunya And Zika virus which till not too long ago have been typically solely current in components of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
One other mosquito, aedes aegypti, which transmits yellow fever and different ailments, has established itself in Cyprus. Specialists say the potential for unfold to different components of Europe is ‘regarding’ given its desire for biting people and skill to transmit illness.
Dengue begins with flu-like signs however can turn out to be extreme and in some instances deadly.
Mass outbreaks have elevated in recent times. Final yr, eight incidents of a number of infections have been recorded in France, 4 in Italy and two in Spain.
Most European instances are imported – a mirrored image of the worldwide motion of individuals and commerce, with the variety of imported instances rising to nearly 5,000 final yr.
However the variety of domestically acquired infections can be growing: 130 folks have been affected in 2023, in comparison with 71 the yr earlier than.
The West Nile virus, which can be transmitted by mosquitoes, is now current in additional European areas than ever earlier than.
One particular person was reported to have been contaminated with the virus in southern Spain in early March, highlighting how weather conditions create an appropriate atmosphere for mosquitoes even “very early within the yr”, the ECDC mentioned.
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Individuals are suggested to make use of mosquito repellent to guard themselves from mosquito bites
“Europe is already seeing how local weather change is creating extra favorable situations for invasive mosquitoes to unfold into beforehand unaffected areas and infect extra folks with ailments similar to dengue,” mentioned ECDC Director Andrea Ammon.
“Elevated worldwide journey from dengue-endemic international locations will even improve the chance of imported instances, and inevitably the chance of native outbreaks.”
Ms Ammon advises folks to ‘take private protecting measures’, including that ‘early detection of instances, well timed surveillance, additional analysis and consciousness actions are of paramount significance within the areas of Europe most in danger’.
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Monitoring and catching mosquitoes in Paris, forward of the Olympic Video games
In line with the World Well being Group (WHO), dengue fever is endemic in additional than 100 international locations around the globe, with greater than six million instances and seven,000 deaths reported final yr.
The best variety of instances happen in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Malaria is essentially the most lethal mosquito-borne illness on this planet. It spreads to people by means of the bites of contaminated feminine mosquitoes anopheleswhich have additionally been present in Europe.
There are issues that malaria incidents may additionally improve on the continent sooner or later, if situations are proper.
Unfold of tiger mosquito behind the rise of dengue fever in Europe
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