Warming Weather in Italy Expands Spread of West Nile Virus
Temperature increases and lengthening summers across Europe are causing mosquito-borne West Nile Virus cases to spread to wider areas in Italy.
Rising temperatures and lengthening warm seasons in Italy are causing mosquitoes to spread the West Nile Virus to a broader geography and over a longer period of time. More than 650 cases have been reported in the country this year.
Case Numbers and Geographic Spread
The more than 650 infections reported across Italy this year account for roughly half of the total cases recorded in Europe. Experts note that this year's figures are generally consistent with recent seasons.
Climate Change and Mosquitoes
Antonino Bella, a researcher from the Italian National Institute of Health, stated that high temperatures linked to climate change help mosquitoes breed and prolong the virus transmission season.
Warm weather can sometimes extend the transmission period of the virus until November. The West Nile Virus has been considered endemic in Italy since 2020.
Effects and Symptoms of the Disease
While approximately 80 percent of infected individuals show no symptoms, mild flu-like illnesses occur in most of the remaining people. Severe neurological complications appear in a small minority, particularly among the elderly and those with underlying health issues.
Situation Across Europe
Italy's experience is also catching the attention of northern European countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, which have similarly reported cases.
Marc-Alain Widdowson from the World Health Organization's European office and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control emphasizes that warming weather, loss of biodiversity, and changes in land use are lengthening the mosquito season across Europe.