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Debilitating tropical virus can spread in cool weather, posing a greater health risk than previously thought
- The UKCEH reported that chikungunya can spread at temperatures as low as 13°C, raising concerns about transmission in Europe.
- Rising international movement and warmer conditions mean the spread of non-native species, with record 2025 outbreaks in France and Italy and a rise in travel-related cases .
- Modelled seasonal windows indicate the UKCEH risk map shows transmission may last 2–3 months across Europe and 4–6 months in southern and eastern Spain and Portugal, with high risk in Malta from March to November.
- Control measures advised include fumigation, habitat removal, public advice, and targeted health resources, with the UK Health Security Agency coordinating surveillance at transport hubs.
- Looking ahead, UKCEH plans to create Europe-wide risk maps for Zika and West Nile to predict climate-driven spread of chikungunya and assess establishment risks in the UK.
35 Articles
35 Articles
British researchers have analysed about 50 scientific papers on mosquito vectors of the virus, and are alerting about the effect of temperature rise in its spread in Europe.
Chikungunya cases are increasing worldwide. A study shows that Europe is also at risk because the virus is contagious at cool degrees.
As far as tropical countries were concerned, the problem is now increasingly affecting Central Europe: a new study shows that the painful viral disease Chikungunya can now be transmitted through gels in large parts of Europe – including Austria. Increasing temperatures and the spread of an invasive species of gels ensure that the virus finds favourable conditions in this country at least for some time. The British "Guardian" reported on the resu…
Chikungunya fever threatens Europe and our country: according to new research, tiger mosquitoes can infect even in cooler weather than expected.
Debilitating tropical virus can spread in cool weather, posing a greater health risk than previously thought
Chikungunya virus, a debilitating tropical disease caused by infected mosquito bites, poses a greater health threat in Europe than previously thought because it can be spread when air temperatures are as low as 13°C. Researchers at the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology investigated the ability of the Asian tiger mosquito to spread the virus, which is rarely fatal but can cause long-term chronic joint pain.
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