The Asian tiger mosquito, which carries dengue fever, could be endemic in Britain by mid-century, government health experts say.
In recent years, insects have spread to most of Europe due to the warmer climate, tending to live in urban areas and feed during the day, putting people at greater risk.
They have striped bodies and are known for their ability to spread dengue fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya fever (diseases usually associated with tropical regions).
The UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) fears dengue fever could be transmitted in London by 2060, and mosquitoes themselves could be widespread across the UK by the 2040s.
UKHSA entomologist Jolyon Medlock said surveillance at borders could help slow the spread of mosquitoes, and people should cover standing water and empty containers as the insects lay their eggs to keep mosquitoes away.
Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UKHSA, said: “What was called a tropical disease when I was trained many years ago will actually become a national household disease.”
Officials also said other food- and water-borne infections could become more common, increasing the risk of further pandemics.
The dangers of heatwaves will worsen, flooding will become more severe, and people’s mental health may be adversely affected.
Food prices could also become more volatile, as much of the food the UK imports comes from areas prone to climate impacts such as drought.
Wildfires that produce toxic smoke are also expected to occur more frequently during hotter, drier summers.
Young children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable to these threats.
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“In the summer of 2022, temperatures in the UK exceeded 40 degrees for the first time on record,” Dame Jenny said.
“Nearly 3,000 excess deaths were recorded during this prolonged heat wave, while many other countries have experienced extreme heat and prolonged heat waves in recent months.
“Using a high emissions scenario, health-related deaths in the UK are estimated to increase by more than 100% in the 2030s, more than 500% in the 2050s and more than 1,000% by 2070.”
read more:
What is dengue fever and how is it spread?
Doctors fear an outbreak could occur in the UK too – and here’s why
The Earth is already 1.2 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels, and given the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, further warming is already locked in, even if emissions start to fall overnight.
This means some adaptation will be needed, alongside emissions reductions, housing improvements, flood protection and extreme heat warnings, UKHSA said.
Mrs Jenny added: ‘Climate change is an important threat to public health around the world, not only through increased mortality from extreme temperatures and weather impacts, but also through increased spread of infectious diseases and worsened earth system vulnerabilities.”
Source: news.sky.com
