Tropical Disease Chikungunya Spreads Across Europe, UK at Risk
A tropical disease once confined to Africa and Asia is now spreading rapidly across Europe, raising serious concerns that it could soon be detected in the United Kingdom. Known as chikungunya, this illness is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes excruciatingly painful symptoms, including severe and prolonged joint pain. In vulnerable populations such as young children and older adults, it can even prove fatal.
Climate Change Fuels Expansion
The panic over a potential UK outbreak has intensified due to new research indicating the disease can spread in temperatures significantly lower than previously believed. A recent analysis published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface found that the minimum temperature for infections is now 2.5°C lower than earlier estimates. This shift means conditions in south-east England could become suitable for transmission for up to two months each year.
Sandeep Tegar, lead author of the study at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), emphasized the alarming pace of change. “The rate of global warming in Europe is approximately double the global average, and the lower temperature limit for virus spread matters a lot, so our new estimates are quite shocking,” Tegar stated. “The northward expansion of the disease is just a matter of time.”
Outbreaks in Europe
In recent years, small numbers of chikungunya cases have been reported in more than 10 European countries. However, 2025 saw large-scale outbreaks with hundreds of cases in France and Italy. Dr. Steven White, also at UKCEH, highlighted the dramatic shift. “Twenty years ago, if you said we were going to have chikungunya and dengue in Europe, everybody would have said you were mad: these are tropical diseases,” he noted. “Now everything’s changed. This is down to this invasive mosquito and climate change – it really is as simple as that. We’re seeing rapid change and that’s the worry.”
France, for instance, recorded only about 30 cases over the past decade until last year, when that number skyrocketed to over 800. This surge underscores the growing threat as warmer climates allow mosquitoes to thrive in new regions.
Implications for the UK
The spread of chikungunya across Europe serves as a stark warning for the UK. With climate change accelerating, public health officials are on high alert for the disease's potential arrival. The combination of invasive mosquito species and rising temperatures creates a perfect storm for tropical diseases to establish footholds in previously unaffected areas.
Residents are urged to stay informed about mosquito-borne illnesses and take preventive measures, such as using insect repellent and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed. As the situation evolves, continued monitoring and research will be crucial to mitigating risks and protecting public health.
