Study: Chikungunya Virus Could Spread Across Europe

Is chikungunya now primarily a European threat or a global challenge requiring a collaborative response?

Published 6 hours ago

Study: Chikungunya Virus Could Spread Across Europe

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Above: A worker fumigates trees to prevent the spread of chikungunya in Nice, southern France, on Oct. 10, 2025. Image credit: Valerty Hache/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

While the chikungunya virus poses an increasing risk to Europe, individuals must not forget that the disease is a global threat across Africa, Asia and the Americas. In these regions and others, climate change is not the only driver of the virus; viral adaptation and international travel also play significant roles, necessitating a global and collaborative response to tackle the disease.

American Society for Microbiology

Narrative B

Europe faces an alarming expansion of the chikungunya virus as new research reveals the virus spreads at temperatures as low as 13°C — far below previous estimates. Climate change is exacerbating this risk, creating ideal conditions for the mosquitoes that transmit this disease to establish in Europe, threatening public health across regions previously considered safe from tropical diseases.

The Royal Society UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology