Occasion organisers have been attempting to manage the unfold of the insect because the invasive species strikes additional north throughout Europe, writes Michael McHale
As the most important sporting occasion on the planet, the individuals tasked with making certain this summer season’s Paris Olympics run easily have loads on their minds.
However with so many challenges to face, it’s unlikely that, when the French capital was introduced because the 2024 hosts seven years in the past, controlling the unfold of mosquito-borne diseases would have been excessive on many Parisians’ checklist of priorities.
Now, the risk posed by such ailments is clearer than ever. Final month the European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC) issued a warning on the unfold of diseases, together with dengue, the West Nile virus and the Zika virus, throughout many of the continent.
The figures converse for themselves: in 2022, 71 instances of locally-acquired dengue have been reported in EU/EEA international locations. Final 12 months, that quantity rose to 130.
Of specific concern to Olympics organisers is aedes albopictus, extra generally often called the Asian tiger mosquito, which is considered probably the most invasive species of mosquito on the planet.
Whereas extra frequent in southern Europe, lately it has been spreading north, and now has self-sustaining populations in 13 European international locations, together with France.
The insect is understood for transmitting dengue, chikungunya and the Zika viruses. Because of this, Paris authorities are determined to watch and lure them.
Rising temperatures are taking part in a big function within the unfold of mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. Nevertheless, Dr Graham Fry, founder and lead medical marketing consultant of the Tropical Medical Bureau, believes different components may additionally be at play.
“One factor that has modified is we’re extra conscious of issues which can be occurring all through the world with social media and many others, and with higher reporting,” he instructed IMT.
“We’re listening to about issues greater than we ever did prior to now. So, whether or not there’s as important a change as you would possibly suppose will not be right. It could simply be that we’re getting higher reporting amenities in place, and we’re listening to about issues far more shortly.”
Dr Fry acknowledges there was a rise in vector-borne diseases, pointing to a latest convention he attended the place Swedish specialists highlighted the unfold of tick-borne encephalitis from the east to the west of the nation for the primary time.
“The warmth undoubtedly does improve threat components of various completely different ailments – some are insect-borne, and a few aren’t,” he stated.
“Flooding, for instance. Flooding is often related to many ailments which can have been there prior to now, however now they’re immediately changing into a much bigger subject right this moment as a result of we’ve acquired large flooding.
“Leptospirosis is likely one of the most typical. We’ve got that in Eire as effectively, and the time it hits us in Eire is after a dry spell – the rats urinate on the bottom, after which there’s heavy rainfall which washes that into the water.”
The motion of individuals all over the world, and at sooner speeds than ever earlier than, additionally makes the unfold of ailments into locations they’ve by no means been seen earlier than far more inevitable.
“All of these issues have to be put into the entire equation,” he defined. “There’s not a lot doubt that, if the local weather does proceed to maintain heat, we’re going to see extra aedes mosquitoes buzzing round in Europe – and never solely southern Europe, however coming into northern Europe as effectively.
“Whether or not they’ll attain Eire or not, that’s a debatable subject as a result of we’ve a cooler local weather. Mosquitoes solely stay for a comparatively quick time frame. In the event that they’re going to transmit a illness, they have to be energetic for an extended interval.”
On the potential risks dealing with vacationers hoping to journey to frequent vacation locations in western Europe – together with sports activities followers on their solution to Paris – vigilance is suggested.
“Basically, if there are mosquitoes buzzing across the place, they need a drop of your blood,” Dr Fry added. “In the event that they take blood from anyone who has an an infection similar to dengue, chikungunya or Zika, can they transmit that to the following individual they take blood from? The reply is sure.”
Nevertheless, when it comes to the unfold of malaria, the method of transmission is slower.
“In some circumstances there’s an intrinsic multiplication course of that has to happen inside the mosquito.
For malaria, when it picks up the blood from an individual who has malaria, and it sucks into their physique, it takes days for it to turn out to be infectious via the saliva of the mosquito earlier than it may give it to anyone else, so it’s not as fast as a viral an infection.” 
