Australians who choose to “chase the European summer” could be putting their health and even their lives at risk, experts warn.
More and more travelers are being affected by a group of insidious diseases that cause paralyzing fever, terrible stomach pains, bleeding gums and even death.
Diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, West Nile virus and even the Zika virus are transmitted by mosquitoes that once avoided Europe in favor of warmer climates.
But now three varieties of mosquitoes have established self-sustaining colonies across Europe, putting travelers and locals at risk.
Dengue cases alone doubled in 2023 and are expected to “explode” in 2024, with one experienced traveler describing it as “a terrifying plague.”
Australians who choose to “chase the European summer” could be putting their health and even their lives at risk, experts warn
According to the European Center for Disease Patrol and Prevention, residents and travelers to 13 countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain, are at serious risk. risk.
Disease-carrying insects often arrived with travelers from warmer climates like Africa, limiting the risk of serious diseases spreading far and wide.
Two varieties of mosquitoes are causing the most health problems across the continent: Aedes albopictusknown to transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses and Aedes aegyptivector of yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses.
And although they are not yet thriving, the insects are also increasing in Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Sweden.
The Culex pipiens mosquito, responsible for the spread of West Nile virus, is a cause for concern because it is also native to Europe.
Disease-carrying insects used to arrive with travelers from warmer climates like Africa, limiting the risk of serious diseases spreading everywhere; Now they live there all year round.
Locally acquired dengue cases doubled last year to 130 and there were 4,900 cases in total.
Between 2010 and 2021 there were a total of 70 local cases of the disease, so the increase to 130 cases last year alone was “a problem” for the authorities.
Early data suggests that 2024 will break those records.
However, West Nile virus cases appear to be declining: 713 cases were detected last year, resulting in 67 deaths.
This contrasts with the record of 1,133 cases the previous year.
Dengue is the second most commonly identified cause of fever in sick international travelers.
Symptoms of dengue include high fever (40°C/104°F), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rash.
If symptoms worsen after two days, or once the fever subsides, urgent medical attention is required.
36,000 people die every year from dengue worldwide.
The risk of death among those with severe dengue is 0.8% to 2.5%, and with appropriate treatment is less than 1%. However, those who develop significantly low blood pressure may have a mortality rate of up to 26%.
