Hot summers bring more diseases: mosquitoes, ticks and dangerous bacteria, warns ECDC

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned that longer summers and higher temperatures are encouraging the spread of infectious diseases across Europe. Based on data collected this summer, specialists have identified four risk categories warranting heightened attention: foodborne illnesses, vibriosis, mosquito-borne diseases, and tick-borne diseases.

According to the ECDC, the problem lies not only with intense heatwaves, but particularly with the fact that high temperatures are persisting for increasingly prolonged periods, creating favourable conditions for both bacterial proliferation and the expansion of disease-carrying insects.

Food and waterborne bacteria thrive in the heat

Foodborne illnesses are among the most common in summer, as high temperatures accelerate bacterial growth in food. The ECDC recommends following hygiene guidelines, washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly, and cooking food fully — particularly meat.

Another condition associated with the warm season is vibriosis, caused by bacteria of the Vibrio genus, which thrive in warm coastal waters with low salinity, as well as in river estuaries. Depending on the route of infection, symptoms may include abdominal pain or cramps, fever, chills, watery diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. The bacteria can also enter the body through open wounds such as cuts or scratches, causing redness, swelling, intense pain, rapidly worsening lesions, and sometimes blisters or fluid-filled vesicles.

Specialists advise people with cuts, scratches, piercings, or recent tattoos to avoid swimming, and recommend that seafood from at-risk areas be thoroughly cooked before consumption.

Mosquitoes spreading to new areas

The ECDC warns that longer, warmer, and wetter seasons are allowing certain mosquito species to breed in regions where they were previously rare or absent. These mosquitoes can transmit viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile.

For protection, the use of repellent products, skin-covering clothing, and window screens is recommended. The ECDC also advises eliminating standing water around homes and gardens, as it provides ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

Tick season is growing longer

Ticks are present throughout Europe, and their active season is extending as autumns become milder. Infected specimens can transmit Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, both of which can cause serious long-term complications.

Those going hiking or spending time in parks and areas with tall grass are advised to wear long-sleeved tops and long trousers, and to carefully check their bodies for ticks upon returning home. The ECDC notes that an effective vaccine exists for tick-borne encephalitis, and that detailed prevention guidance is available on the institution's website.