As climate change pushes mosquitoes north, Europe and North America are becoming increasingly vulnerable to chikungunya virus outbreaks, a new study warns.
Scientists in China published their findings in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology on May 27, revealing that 139 countries and territories currently face potential chikungunya threats. This represents 21.3% of Earth's total land area.
"But we show that under climate change models, the virus will further expand northward into temperate regions, especially northeastern North America, central Europe, and East Asia," said Ye Xu, co-author of the study.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito, has traditionally been the primary transmitter for chikungunya. This species typically flourishes in populated areas throughout tropical zones. However, in recent years, rising global temperatures combined with increased movement of people across borders have facilitated both the geographic spread of disease-carrying mosquito populations and the distribution of new virus strains.
Many people have never heard of the Chikungunya virus and need to know more. In this gallery, we explore what causes it, how to treat it, and prevention methods.
Curious what the Chikungunya virus is and if you should be concerned? Click through now.