Key takeaways
- The tropical disease chikungunya is now able to spread throughout Europe due to rising temperatures.
- The disease causes severe and long-lasting joint pain.
- Vaccines for the disease currently exist, but they are expensive and not widely available.
The painful tropical disease chikungunya is now capable of spreading across Europe via mosquitoes, according to a recent study. The research demonstrates that increasing temperatures, driven by climate change, are enabling the virus to extend its reach into northern regions.
Researchers found that warming temperatures could allow for virus transmission for more than six months each year in Southern European countries like Spain and Greece. In southern parts of the United Kingdom, transmission is already possible for two months annually. Further expansion northward is anticipated by scientists. This expansion highlights the growing impact of climate change on global health and disease patterns.
From Tanzania to Europe
The chikungunya virus was first identified in 1952 in Tanzania. For many years, it remained confined to tropical regions, where millions of cases occur annually. While sporadic cases were reported in Europe in previous years, significant outbreaks were recorded in France and Italy in 2025, with hundreds of infections.
The disease is characterized by severe and prolonged joint pain, with young children and older adults at increased risk of serious complications or death. Understanding the risk factors and potential severity of chikungunya is crucial for public health preparedness.
Mosquitoes
The virus primarily spreads through the tiger mosquito, which bites during the day. This mosquito is now moving northward into Europe due to rising temperatures. The mosquito has been observed in the United Kingdom, though it has not yet become widely established there.
Historically, cold European winters prevented mosquitoes from surviving year-to-year and transmitting the disease. However, scientists are increasingly observing mosquito activity year-round in parts of Southern Europe, raising concerns about larger outbreaks. This continuous activity underscores the need for ongoing surveillance and control measures.
Prevention
Vaccines against chikungunya are currently available, but they are expensive and not widely accessible. However, the increasing spread of the virus has spurred pharmaceutical development. Valneva, a French-Austrian biotech company, developed the first approved chikungunya vaccine last year. Ixchiq is a live attenuated vaccine that is designed to provide protection with a single dose. The European Union and the United Kingdom approved the vaccine in February 2025, marking a commercial breakthrough for Valneva.
Other pharmaceutical companies are also actively developing their own vaccines against the virus. Bharat Biotech, an Indian company, is also working on a chikungunya vaccine.
The potential profitability of chikungunya vaccine development remains to be seen. Previously, the target population was tiny, consisting primarily of travelers to tropical regions. However, as the spread increases within Europe, demand for vaccines may also grow. (ev)
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