LONDON, England. Recently, nearly 300 cases of a rare virus called chikungunya fever were reported in Italy. The outbreak occurred in the Italian province of Ravenna. There, dozens of people began complaining of fevers, joint pain, and headaches. Local doctors initially suspected a common ailment caused by sandflies. But lab tests determined that the ailment was actually chikungunya fever. This rare disease is spread by mosquitoes. The virus occurs primarily in the warm, tropical climates of Africa and Asia.
The virus, believed to have been brought to Italy by a tourist from India, is raising concerns among health officials. They worry about increased global travel. They also worry about extended mosquito seasons. They believe these factors are posing a health threat to Europe and North America.
Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum is a climate change expert at the World Health Organisation. He and other experts believe that this outbreak is a warning signal. It is a sign, they believe, of the harmful effect of climate change. They believe warmer temperatures overall are creating new breeding grounds for diseases. These diseases had long been confined to the southern hemisphere. This concerns experts. They worry that Europe and North America might be hit by outbreaks of diseases that are not normally found in those regions.
"With more movement of people and a changing climate, there will be shifting patterns of disease," said Campbell-Lendrum.
Italy's most recent winter was particularly mild. Some believe this is due to widespread climate change. Officials at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are concerned. They believe the warmer weather allowed mosquitoes to start breeding earlier than usual. The increased number of mosquitoes meant a greater likelihood of transferring viruses from one person to another. And mosquitoes are capable of spreading diseases that are more deadly than chikungunya.
"Climate change affects the breeding of every mosquito on Earth," said Campbell-Lendrum.
Most scientists are confident that future outbreaks can be controlled. They believe that Europe can ward off widespread disease. This is because there are high living standards and advanced health systems there. But these factors cannot keep all mosquitoes away. In fact, certain species of mosquitoes actually prefer breeding sites around most homes. These sites can include rain-filled gutters and plastic plant containers.
"If the climate gets suitable enough, then even very high living standards won't necessarily protect you," Campbell-Lendrum said.
Now, health officials are providing warnings to North American and European countries. They're urging the countries to strengthen their systems for becoming aware of and responding to contagious diseases.
"It is very likely we will have diseases popping up . . . that no one had ever expected to see," said Campbell-Lendrum. "We need to be prepared for more surprises like this in the future."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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