There are already 70 percent more cases of dengue fever than in the entire previous year, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns. Be especially careful before your upcoming summer holiday, as the disease is also increasingly spreading in popular holiday destinations for Austrians. This is made possible by the increasing spread of the Asian tiger mosquito, which is also gradually establishing itself here.
The number of infections has been rising for five years, but the situation on the American continents has been particularly worrying since the beginning of 2024, the WHO reported in Geneva on Thursday. More than seven million cases had been reported there in April, significantly more than the 4.5 million cases in all of 2023.
Dengue is a viral disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical climates and can be life-threatening. The disease can be transmitted by the Asian tiger mosquito, which is not only spreading in Southern Europe, but is also becoming increasingly common in Austria.
Southern Europe “ideal environment for distribution”
Outbreaks of dengue continue to occur, especially in popular holiday destinations such as Croatia, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy, the WHO reports. Last year, 82 cases were reported in Italy, the most in Europe.
“The situation in Southern Europe is certainly worrying,” Marcel Conrad of the crisis warning service A3M explains to the tourism portal fvw.de. “The combination of the mosquito vector, sufficient virus carriers in the population and suitable climatic conditions create an ideal environment for the spread of dengue.”
Thousands have already died this year
According to the WHO, there were already cases in 90 countries this year by the end of April. 7.6 million have been reported, of which 3.4 million have been confirmed. In more than 16,000 cases people were seriously ill and 3,000 died.
However, many countries do not have the capacity for comprehensive surveillance, which is why WHO assumes that there are actually significantly more cases. Containing it is important because otherwise the disease could spread in countries where it has rarely occurred until now.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
