The vast majority were reported by Italy and Greece, 723 and 283 respectively, and the number of cases in Italy in 2022 was the highest on record, the ECDC added.
, flooding, and drought in Europe have created the habitat required by the Aedes Albopictus mosquito, which can spread
. It also carries the West Nile virus, yellow fever, and the Zika virus, Xinhua news agency reported.
The mosquito is mostly spreading north and into higher altitudes, whereas its traditional territory is in humid parts of the Mediterranean area. Other disease-carrying mosquito species are also spreading, the ECDC said.
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“In recent years we have seen a geographical spread of invasive mosquito species to previously unaffected areas in Europe,” said Andrea Ammon, director of the ECDC.
“If this continues, we can expect to see more cases and possibly deaths from diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and West Nile Virus,” Ammon said, adding that efforts need to focus on ways to control mosquito population, enhancing surveillance and enforcing personal protective measures.
Reference :
- 2023 West Nile virus transmission season – (https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/west-nile-fever/surveillance-and-disease-data/disease-data-ecdc)
Source: IANS
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