Dengue and chikungunya: future threats for Northern Europe?

Abstract

Arthropod-borne viral diseases are likely to be affected by the consequences of climate change with an increase in their distribution and intensity. Among these infectious diseases, chikungunya and dengue viruses are two (re)emergent arboviruses transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes and which have recently demonstrated their capacity for rapid expansion. They most often cause mild diseases, but they can both be associated with complications and severe forms. In Europe, following the establishment of invasive Aedes spp, the first outbreaks of autochtonous dengue and chikungunya have already occurred. Northern Europe is currently relatively spared, but climatic projections show that the conditions are permissive for the establishment of Aedes albopictus (also known as the tiger mosquito) in the coming decades. It is therefore essential to question and improve the means of surveillance in northern Europe, at the dawn of inevitable future epidemics.

Epidemiological, virological and clinical characterization of a Dengue/Zika outbreak in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica 2017–2018

“…The emergence of arboviral diseases in other geographical regions so far free from these common arboviruses, has been continuously increasing in the last several years due to climate change. For example, autochthonous cases of Dengue, Zika and/or Chikungunya have been reported in countries found in the south of the European continent and in some southern states of USA ( San Martín et al., 2010 ; Fredericks and Fernandez-Sesma, 2014 ; Amraoui and Failloux, 2016 ; Jourdain et al., 2020 ; Palermo et al., 2021 ; Fournet et al., 2023 ; Manica et al., 2023 ; Laverdeur et al., 2024 ; Rezza, 2024 ). Also, newly emerging arboviruses in previous endemic areas for these 3 common arboviruses have been detailed and studied by others ( Wilder-Smith et al., 2017 ; Pérez et al., 2019 ; Caicedo et al., 2021 ; Wesselmann et al., 2024 ).…”

Combining transinfected Wolbachia and a genetic sexing strain to control Aedes albopictus in laboratory-controlled conditions

“…The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has emerged as a mosquito species of major medical concern following its global expansion over the past 30-40 years [1] and its vectorial competence has proven efficient in transmitting arboviruses such as dengue or chikungunya in tropical [2,3] as well as non-tropical [4] environments. In the absence of available vaccines for most of the (re)emerging arboviruses, transmission can be mitigated through the control of vector populations using insecticides although more environmentally friendly methods are being developed in order to bypass the selection of insecticide resistance and limit the effects of pesticides on non-target species.…”

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“…The emergence of arboviral diseases in other geographical regions so far free from these common arboviruses, has been continuously increasing in the last several years due to climate change. For example, autochthonous cases of Dengue, Zika and/or Chikungunya have been reported in countries found in the south of the European continent and in some southern states of USA (San Martıń et al, 2010;Fredericks and Fernandez-Sesma, 2014;Amraoui and Failloux, 2016;Jourdain et al, 2020;Palermo et al, 2021;Fournet et al, 2023;Manica et al, 2023;Laverdeur et al, 2024;Rezza, 2024). Also, newly emerging arboviruses in previous endemic areas for these 3 common arboviruses have been detailed and studied by others (Wilder-Smith et al, 2017;Peŕez et al, 2019;Caicedo et al, 2021;Wesselmann et al, 2024).…”