More Than Half the World's Population at Risk of Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Scientists from the UK's Health Security Agency have warned that more than half of the global population could be at risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever by the end of this century.
According to the German News Agency, experts predict that the spread of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes will expand due to global warming, reaching parts of Northern Europe and other regions of the world in the coming decades.
In the United Kingdom, data released by the Health Security Agency showed that the number of imported malaria cases exceeded 2,000 last year for the first time in over two decades.
The Health Security Agency reported a rise in confirmed malaria cases after traveling abroad in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, reaching 2,004 cases in 2023, compared to 1,369 cases in 2022.
This increase has been attributed to a resurgence of malaria in many countries and a rise in international travel following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.
Meanwhile, globally, the number of dengue fever cases reported to the World Health Organization has increased eightfold over the past two decades, rising to more than 5 million cases in 2019, up from 500,000 cases in 2000.
In Europe, the mosquito species carrying dengue fever has invaded 13 European countries since 2000, with the disease spreading locally in France, Italy, and Spain in 2023.
Researchers note that until recently, dengue fever was largely confined to tropical and subtropical regions, as freezing temperatures kill mosquito larvae and eggs.
These findings were presented at the conference of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Barcelona, Spain.
In the United Kingdom, data released by the Health Security Agency showed that the number of imported malaria cases exceeded 2,000 last year for the first time in over two decades.
The Health Security Agency reported a rise in confirmed malaria cases after traveling abroad in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, reaching 2,004 cases in 2023, compared to 1,369 cases in 2022.
This increase has been attributed to a resurgence of malaria in many countries and a rise in international travel following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.
Meanwhile, globally, the number of dengue fever cases reported to the World Health Organization has increased eightfold over the past two decades, rising to more than 5 million cases in 2019, up from 500,000 cases in 2000.
In Europe, the mosquito species carrying dengue fever has invaded 13 European countries since 2000, with the disease spreading locally in France, Italy, and Spain in 2023.
Researchers note that until recently, dengue fever was largely confined to tropical and subtropical regions, as freezing temperatures kill mosquito larvae and eggs.
These findings were presented at the conference of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Barcelona, Spain.
Translation:
Translated by AI
