Tiny threats: could mosquitoes bring big problems to Ireland?
Ireland Range Of Yet Seen Seeing To West Transmitted Nile With Cases More Europe Mosquitoes A Expanding Hasn’t Frequent Ireland Risk Outbreaks, But Future Locally There’s Virus… And Their
As the Irish skies unleash their predictable rain, and temperatures continue downwards this autumn, there's one pest we rarely think about… mosquitoes. Sure, we’ve all experienced that rare itchy encounter during a warm summer evening, but surely, we’re safe from mosquito-borne diseases here, right?
Well, not so fast. As climate change subtly shifts our weather patterns, mosquitoes and the diseases they carry, might become more than just a mild annoyance in Ireland.
Yes, really! While Ireland isn’t exactly a hotspot for tropical diseases, we do have our own resident mosquito species, in fact we have 18 species of mosquito that are found in Ireland. These include Culex pipiens and Anopheles claviger. These mosquitoes are currently just nuisance biters, not disease spreaders.
However, Ireland has had outbreaks of malaria (a mosquito-borne disease) in the past. Oliver Cromwell contracted malaria in Ireland. It is believed that he became ill in the summer of 1649, during the siege of Drogheda, and suffered from its effects throughout his life, possibly contributing to his declining health before his death in 1658.
As the planet heats up, so do the mosquitoes’ chances of survival and expansion. Longer, warmer summers, coupled with increased rainfall, are turning parts of Europe into prime mosquito real estate. Mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water (think puddles, flowerpots, and clogged drains), which become more abundant in the damp conditions we know all too well.
As temperatures rise, the threat of mosquito-borne diseases is beginning to edge closer to our doorstep.
Take West Nile Virus, for instance, another mosquito-borne disease that’s spreading across Europe. The Culex pipiens mosquito, which transmits West Nile Virus, is already present in Ireland. So far, Ireland has remained free of local West Nile Virus transmission, but with climate change creating warmer, wetter conditions, there’s a potential future public health risk for Ireland.
West Nile Virus can cause flu-like symptoms in about 20% of people who are infected, with less than 1% developing severe neurological complications, including swelling of the brain. Though most healthy people can shrug off the infection, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of serious illness.
Not just yet. Ireland hasn’t seen locally transmitted cases of West Nile Virus… yet. But with mosquitoes expanding their range and Europe seeing more frequent outbreaks, there’s a future risk to Ireland.
It’s not just climate change, global travel plays a part. The increase in international travel has allowed mosquitoes (and the diseases they carry) to hitch rides on planes, ships, and even in luggage. It’s not unheard of for tourists returning from mosquito-heavy destinations to unknowingly bring back a few stowaway viruses. In fact, as the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus expands across Europe, countries like France and Italy have reported cases of locally transmitted dengue — a disease we’d usually associate with the tropics.
During my time living in Fiji, I had a firsthand experience with the danger that mosquito-borne diseases can pose. I contracted chikungunya — a virus spread by the Aedes mosquitoes.
It began with a sudden fever and debilitating joint pain, leaving me bedridden for days. I developed reactive arthritis and fatigue, which lasted for six months. While I eventually recovered, the experience was a stark reminder of how serious these diseases can be. It’s a virus you might expect in tropical climates, but as mosquitoes expand their range, the thought of encountering something similar in a future Ireland no longer seems so far-fetched.
For now, the best advice is to avoid bites. It may sound like a simple solution, but it’s an effective one. Wearing long sleeves, using mosquito repellent, and making sure windows are covered with screens can keep those pesky biters at bay. Eliminating standing water around your home is also key as mosquitoes breed in still water, so make sure there aren’t any forgotten buckets or clogged drains around.
We need to increase surveillance of mosquito populations in Ireland. This would help track the movement of species like Aedes albopictus, which could potentially bring tropical diseases like dengue to our shores in a warmer future. We need to be prepared for the emergence of new vector-borne diseases in regions that haven’t experienced them before. And Ireland, with its mild, wet climate, might just be a candidate for that mosquito expansion plan.
As climate change reshapes the world, it might be time to accept that mosquitoes as vectors of disease could be part of Ireland’s future. So, while mosquitoes aren’t exactly swarming Ireland in dangerous numbers just yet, they’re worth watching. If there’s one thing, we can be sure of, it’s that mosquitoes are nothing if not persistent. And if they’ve got their sights set on Ireland, we might want to start stocking up on repellent.
- Dr Michelle McKeown is a lecturer in Environmental Geography at University College Cork
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