Italy sees mosquitos spread the West Nile virus farther and longer as Europe warms
Rising temperatures in Italy are extending the transmission season for the West Nile virus, leading to a wider geographic spread of the disease. Health authorities report that warmer weather facilitates mosquito reproduction, increasing infection risks for the population.
Why it matters
This trend highlights the direct impact of climate change on public health and the potential for tropical diseases to migrate into previously unaffected northern regions.
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Add as preferred source Mosquitoes are kept in a laboratory enclosure for research into mosquito-borne diseases at the Italian National Institute of Health in Rome, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia Italian health authorities see evidence that rising temperatures and longer warm seasons are helping mosquitoes spread West Nile virus across a wider area, during more months of the year.
More than 650 infections have been reported in Italy so far this year, accounting for roughly half of all cases recorded in Europe, according to local health authorities.
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