Climate Change and Infectious Diseases – a Possible Threat for Germany and Europe?
DOI: 10.3238/zfa.2011.0217
german translation / full articleKeywords: Global warming Asian Tiger Mosquito Chikungunya fever Dengue fever West-Nile fever
Summary: Global warming facilitates the importation of hitherto tropical infectious diseases also to Europe. Especially the introduction of the Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus is an important prerequisite for the transmission of Chikungunya fever and Dengue fever. Whereas these infectious diseases are restricted to rare cases or isolated outbreaks, the West Nile fever has already arrived in several parts of Europe. Germany has been spared from these viral tropical diseases so far. However, the winter months in this country become more and more warm and humid. This may result in an increasing seasonal activity of rodent and tick populations thereby leading to significantly more infections with Hanta viruses, TBE viruses and Borrelia.
(State: 10.05.2011)
