Irish tourists warned as mosquito diseases on the rise across Europe

The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) has published new guidelines this week as Europe enters it's "mosquito season".

Irish tourists have been warned to be vigilant if travelling to Europe this summer as serious viruses such as yellow fever can be transmitted by mosquitos.

There are several different types of mosquitos that can all carry different viruses that can then be transmitted to humans. Among those include the Aedes Albopictus, one of the main vectors of concern, which can transmit dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.

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It also includes the Aedes aegypti, which also spreads yellow fever virus; and Culex pipiens, the primary vector for West Nile virus. These species are currently expanding across Europe and Aedes albopictus is currently established in 16 countries and 369 regions – up from 114 regions about a decade ago.

Aedes aegypti, once eliminated from Europe, has re-emerged in Cyprus. Meanwhile, Culex pipiens continues to enable widespread West Nile virus transmission, especially during the summer and early autumn.

Last year, 304 cases of locally acquired dengue were reported in Europe, an increasing trend compared with previous years (130 cases in 2023 and 71 cases in 2022). In the same year, 1 436 cases of West Nile virus infection were recorded, with infections spanning 212 regions in 19 countries. These figures underline the growing geographic spread and public health impact of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe.

So far in 2025, France has reported six outbreaks of locally acquired cases of chikungunya virus disease, with symptoms onset in late May or June. This indicates a very early start of the mosquito season. In previous years, such cases occurred in July or August, highlighting how changing environmental conditions are creating longer and more favourable periods for transmission.

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What can be done?

The ECDC advises travellers to apply mosquito repellent on exposed skin, wear long sleeves and trousers, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquito activity peaks, and sleep under bed nets or in rooms that are screened or air-conditioned if possible.

Travellers returning from regions where diseases like dengue or chikungunya virus disease are circulating should continue these precautions for at least three weeks to avoid introducing viruses into areas where competent mosquito vectors are present.

Environmental and community actions are also essential to reduce mosquito breeding and to prevent outbreaks. Removing standing water from containers such as flowerpots, buckets, and clogged gutters can significantly limit breeding grounds. In some cases, larvicides may be used in larger water bodies, and adulticides applied during active outbreaks, always considering the ecological impact.

Taken together, these measures can reduce the impact of mosquito-borne diseases across Europe.