2023-07-04 13:51:29
Major Concern as Malaria Disease Spreads Locally in the United States
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There is growing alarm in the United States as the dreaded malaria disease is being diagnosed in individuals who have not traveled abroad, indicating that they have contracted the infection locally. This concerning development is particularly evident in a number of holiday parks across the country. Authorities are increasingly concerned that the malaria mosquito is on the rise and are treating each detected case as an emergency. Experts have cited rising temperatures as a possible cause and warn that an invasion of the mosquito may be imminent.
The climate crisis is also causing dangerous mosquitoes to proliferate in Europe, including the malaria mosquito and the tiger mosquito, which transmits dengue fever. According to a recent report from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), mosquitoes capable of infecting humans with diseases such as dengue, Zika, and malaria are on the rise in Europe. The risk of contracting these viruses is increasing as a result.
The ECDC report specifically highlights the two invasive subtropical species of the mosquito genus Aedes, which are not native to Europe but have been on the rise for several decades. These mosquitoes can transmit viruses from person to person and are in the process of establishing themselves in more parts of Europe. Global warming, the increase in heat waves and floods, and longer and warmer summers are believed to facilitate their survival throughout the year.
The tiger mosquito, capable of spreading as many as 22 different types of viruses, is already prevalent in Southern Europe and is now making its presence felt in the Netherlands. Dengue fever, known for its excruciating pains that give the feeling of bones breaking, is a particularly dreaded disease associated with this mosquito. In 2022, Europe witnessed 71 registered cases of dengue fever, surpassing the total number of cases reported in the preceding ten years combined.
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) warns that the disease is rapidly spreading, especially in the Caribbean Netherlands. The number of dengue virus infections has increased significantly in recent decades, with an estimated 90 million symptomatic cases occurring worldwide each year, including 500,000 cases classified as severe dengue, predominantly affecting children. Several dozen cases of dengue are reported annually in the Caribbean Netherlands alone.
In response to the concerning situation, the RIVM has provided a number of preventive measures to avoid contamination, such as covering bare skin.
Sources:
1. RTL News
2. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
3. Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
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