As Europe Warms, Italy Sees West Nile Virus Spread Farther and Longer
Health officials say climate-linked warmth is lengthening mosquito season and helping the virus spread, with Italy accounting for about half of Europe’s cases.
- Italian health authorities reported more than 650 West Nile virus infections this year, accounting for roughly half of all European cases. Rising temperatures are helping mosquitoes spread the virus across a wider area.
- Higher temperatures linked to climate change help mosquitoes reproduce and extend transmission seasons, researcher Antonino Bella of Italy's National Institute of Health, or ISS, said. Warm weather allows vectors to survive longer, increasing viral replication periods.
- Aedes albopictus is now established in 337 regions across 13 countries, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, or ECDC, reports. This marks a significant increase from 114 regions affected a decade ago.
- Following Italy's experience, The Netherlands reported more than two dozen West Nile cases this year, its first since 2020. European countries farther north are now studying Italy's surveillance system as the virus expands.
- "There are definitely trends which we think are contributing to increased activity," said Marc-Alain Widdowson, who leads the World Health Organization's Europe office. Beyond warming climates, experts cite biodiversity loss and land use changes as drivers.
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Climate change is accelerating the spread of the virus.
More than 650 infections have already been registered in Italy this year, and experts say longer and warmer summers are creating increasingly favorable conditions for the mosquitoes that spread the virus.
In Italy, over 650 cases of West Nile virus were detected in 2026, about half of all cases reported in Europe.
West Nile virus spreads through Europe, Italy recorded more than 650 cases In Italy, more than 650 cases of West Nile virus have been registered - about half of European ones<p>. Warming lengthens the</p> transmission season.
Santa Maria Times
Independent EspañolROME (AP) — Italian health authorities see signs that rising temperatures and longer warm seasons are helping mosquitoes spread the West Nile virus in a wider area...
As Europe warms, Italy sees West Nile virus spread farther and longer - Regional Media News
ROME (AP) - Italian health authorities see evidence that rising temperatures and longer warm seasons are helping mosquitoes spread West Nile virus across a wider area, during more months of the year. More than 650 infections have been reported in Italy so far this year, [...]
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