Exotic mosquitoes and new viruses due to climate change

The pain of a mosquito bite is annoying enough, but unfortunately mosquitoes can also transmit diseases

It is summer so unfortunately mosquito time again. They keep you awake and can sting viciously. Annoying of course, but does it also involve risks? Professor of Experimental Virology Ronald van Rij of Radboudumc explains in our summer series ‘Healthy through the summer’ what the dangers are and how you can protect yourself.

The pain of a mosquito bite is annoying enough, but unfortunately mosquitoes can also transmit diseases. A well-known example of this is the malaria parasite. Fortunately, that is not a big problem in Europe. But what about other diseases? Ronald van Rij: ‘Exotic mosquitoes are on the rise in Europe. In Italy, Spain, southern France and the Balkans, the Asian tiger mosquito is already common in certain periods. This mosquito can carry various viruses, including the Chikungunya virus and the Dengue virus.’

An important cause of the advance is climate change, which makes these originally tropical mosquitoes feel at home in increasingly northern areas. A second source is the international car tire trade. Water remains in tires and standing water is the ideal environment for mosquito larvae. The mosquitoes are thus piggybacking on the transport of car tires from tropical regions to Europe.

Poke through the clothes
‘In Italy there have been Chikungunya outbreaks in the past with a few hundred cases,’ says Van Rij. A Chikungunya infection leads to a high fever and joint pain. Dengue, also known as dengue fever, also causes a high fever and is occasionally found in Europe. Fortunately, it has remained with small outbreaks or individual cases of illness for the time being. No outbreaks have been reported this summer. Van Rij: ‘This means that there is currently no circulation of these viruses in Europe. The risk of contamination is therefore very small. If you come back from vacation with a severe and inexplicable fever, you should of course ring the bell.’ Even though they usually don’t carry diseases, the Asian tiger mosquito is annoying enough. ‘This mosquito is very aggressive, they can even sting through clothing!’, says Van Rij.

House-garden-and-kitchen mosquito
And what about the ‘normal’ mosquito? Van Rij: ‘These are not entirely harmless either. Today some carry the West Nile virus with them.’ It is suspected that rising temperatures and prolonged drought are contributing to the arrival of this virus. You can also become ill from the West Nile virus, although an infection only leads to serious symptoms in one percent of cases. ‘Two years ago, this virus was first found in the Netherlands, but so far the number of cases is still very limited,’ says Van Rij.

Sleeping under mosquito net
Prevention is of course better than cure, so how do we keep the mosquitoes away from us? Van Rij: ‘Applying insect repellents such as DEET to the skin or clothing is effective.’ Mosquitoes no longer smell our skin because of DEET and are also repelled by it. So they start looking for another victim. ‘Covering your skin with clothing also works well in many cases, as does sleeping under a mosquito net. In Europe there is no need for vaccines against the tropical diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. They are still too rare for that.’

Climate change
Due to further climate change, we will probably have more and more problems with exotic mosquitoes, also in the Netherlands. ‘It is not inconceivable that mosquitoes such as the Asian tiger mosquito will come this way,’ says Van Rij. ‘The spread of this mosquito is being closely monitored. All in all, we certainly have to stay alert, but we don’t have much to fear from new mosquitoes at the moment in Europe and certainly in the Netherlands.’

Are you going on a trip to a sub(tropical) area? Then visit the Travel and Vaccination Outpatient Center of the Radboudumc for advice, vaccinations, health declarations and medicines.

See more tips from our experts in the summer special to get through the summer healthy.

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