Europe’s increasingly prolonged summer heat is creating conditions that allow infectious diseases to spread more easily, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has warned.
Beyond individual episodes of extreme heat, the ECDC said persistently higher average temperatures and longer summers are expanding risks associated with contaminated food, coastal waters, mosquitoes and ticks.
Foodborne infections during hot weather
Foodborne infections remain among the most common health risks during the summer months, as higher temperatures accelerate the growth of bacteria in food.
The ECDC recommends maintaining good hygiene standards, washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly and ensuring that food, particularly meat, is properly cooked.
Vibrio bacteria in coastal waters
The agency also highlighted the risk of vibriosis, an infection caused by bacteria of the genus Vibrio.
These bacteria thrive in warm coastal waters with low salt levels, including areas such as the Baltic Sea and river estuaries.
The ECDC has developed an updated interactive data visualisation tool to help predict areas where conditions may create a higher risk of infection.
People with open wounds or recent piercings are advised to avoid swimming in potentially affected waters. Seafood should also be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Mosquito-borne diseases spreading further
Longer periods of warm and humid weather are allowing invasive mosquito species to become established in areas where they were previously rare or absent.
This increases the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya and West Nile virus.
The ECDC recommends using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing and installing screens on windows and doors. Air conditioning may also reduce exposure to mosquitoes indoors.
Residents are advised to remove standing water around their homes, as it can provide breeding sites for mosquitoes.
Longer tick activity seasons
Milder spring and autumn conditions are also extending the period during which ticks remain active.
This raises the risk of diseases including Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, commonly known as TBE.
People taking part in hiking or other outdoor activities are advised to wear long clothing and check their bodies carefully for ticks afterwards.
A vaccine is available against tick-borne encephalitis.
One Health approach
The ECDC linked its findings to the European Union’s One Health approach, which promotes cooperation between the human health, veterinary and environmental sectors.
The agency said climate change is broadening the range of threats facing public health, making long-term strategic cooperation and closer cross-border coordination increasingly necessary.
The approach is intended to strengthen prevention, improve early forecasting and support a more effective response to emerging health risks.
National climate adaptation plans
In a recent assessment covering 15 EU member states, which did not include Cyprus, the ECDC found that more than half had adopted a national climate change adaptation plan.
However, the agency said further work was needed to ensure that these plans include specific measures addressing the public health effects of extreme weather events.
Source: CNA
