On World Mosquito Day, we’re taking a closer look at Europe’s changing mosquito landscape and what it means for public health.

Mosquitoes capable of transmitting diseases such as dengue and chikungunya are now established in more parts of Europe, while West Nile virus is already circulating across the continent. As mosquito distributions and environmental conditions change, more areas may become suitable for transmission.

In this episode of ECDC: On Air, Céline Gossner, Deputy Head of Unit One Health related Diseases / Head of Section Food, Water, Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases at ECDC, explains what we need to know about dengue, chikungunya and West Nile virus in Europe.

How can an infection acquired while travelling lead to local transmission back home? Which mosquitoes transmit which diseases? Who is more at risk of severe illness, and what can we do to protect ourselves and the people around us?

We also look at how mosquito breeding can be reduced around our homes and communities, how climate and environmental conditions influence transmission, and why surveillance, early detection and preparedness are becoming increasingly important.

The message is not one of alarm, but of preparedness. Understanding the risks and acting early can help reduce the impact of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe.

Learn more:

🦟 Mosquito-borne diseases at ECDC
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/mosquito-borne-diseases

🗺️ Where are different mosquito species found in Europe?
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease-vectors/surveillance-and-disease-data/mosquito-maps

✈️ Mosquito-borne diseases: what you need to know before, during and after travelling
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/mosquito-borne-diseases-what-you-need-know-during-and-after-travelling