Excruciating tropical disease can now be transmitted in most of Europe, study finds

Retro · 2026-02-19T07:59:14+0000

Global warming strikes again. This nasty disease spread by mosquitos once confined to the tropics by colder weather elsewhere is now spreading across Europe. UK isn't immune, but we've not been hit yet.

An excruciatingly painful tropical disease called chikungunya can now be transmitted by mosquitoes across most of Europe, a study has found.

Dr Steven White, also at UKCEH, said: “Twenty years ago, if you said we were going to have chikungunya and dengue in Europe, everybody would have said you were mad: these are tropical diseases. Now everything’s changed. This is down to this invasive mosquito and climate change – it really is as simple as that.

“We’re seeing rapid change and that’s the worry. Up until last year, France had recorded 30-odd cases of chikungunya over the last 10 years or so. Last year, they had over 800.” The virus was carried by travellers from French overseas territories in the tropics where there were outbreaks, including Réunion.