The viral infection chikungunya, which causes severe and prolonged joint pain, is gaining traction in Europe. Scientists warn that due to rising temperatures associated with the climate crisis, it is now possible to contract this tropical disease in much of the European continent.
This is reported by Finway
Expansion of Chikungunya’s Range: Key Reasons
Research has shown that the risk of infection in Southern European countries, particularly in Spain and Greece, lasts for more than six months a year, while in southeastern England it lasts for about two months. Experts attribute this trend to rising average annual temperatures, which create favorable conditions for the breeding of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) — the primary vector of the disease.
Research that fully assessed the impact of temperature on the incubation period of the virus in this mosquito species found that the minimum temperature for chikungunya transmission is 2.5°C lower than previously thought. Scientists have described this finding as “quite shocking.”
“The rate of warming in Europe is approximately twice the global average, so the new estimates of the temperature threshold are of serious significance. The northward expansion of the disease is only a matter of time,” emphasized Sandeep Tegar from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Growing Threat: Health Implications and Safety Measures
The chikungunya virus was first identified in 1952 in Tanzania and has long been endemic only to the tropics. The disease causes not only acute joint pain but can also lead to disability, especially in children and the elderly. In recent years, the virus has been reported in over ten countries in Europe, and in 2025, large outbreaks were recorded in France and Italy, with hundreds infected.
According to experts, the emergence of the disease in Europe seemed unlikely just 20 years ago. However, the combination of climate change and the rapid spread of the invasive tiger mosquito, which is active during the day, has changed the situation. This species has already been recorded in the United Kingdom, although it has not yet established itself there. Vaccines for chikungunya exist, but they are expensive, so the primary protection is to avoid mosquito bites.
Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez from the World Health Organization warns that up to 40% of patients may suffer from arthritis or intense pain even five years after infection. Scientists have determined that the critical temperature for virus transmission is 13–14°C, whereas it was previously estimated at 16–18°C. This means that the risk of infection in Southern European countries may persist for more than six months, while in Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland, it may last from three to five months each year.
The spread of the infection often begins after infected travelers return from the tropics. If a local tiger mosquito bites such a person, it can transmit the virus to others. Previously, winters halted this cycle, but now in Southern Europe, mosquitoes are active year-round. In the United Kingdom, local transmission has not yet been recorded, but from January to June 2025, there were 73 reported cases of infection, which is three times more than during the same period in 2024.
Scientists emphasize that effective methods for controlling the spread of mosquitoes include managing standing water, using repellents, and proper epidemiological surveillance. Timely responses will help prevent large outbreaks in the future.