France, Italy Report Rising Chikungunya and West Nile Cases as Spain Battles 362,000 Hectares Burned in Worst EU Wildfire Season

Europe is experiencing a record surge in mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya and West Nile virus, attributed to climate change. In France, chikungunya cases have reached unprecedented levels, with dozens reported in a small neighborhood of Vitrolles and 15 indigenous cases recorded in Bergerac, Dordogne, marking a first for the department. Italy has also seen a rise in chikungunya cases, with 10 reported in the Verona area. Additionally, Italy is facing an increase in West Nile virus infections, with 27 deaths nationwide in 2025. Veneto reported its first fatality from the virus this year, and Lazio continues to report repeated fatalities. In China, Guangdong province recorded 336 new local chikungunya cases in one week. Meanwhile, southern Europe is battling extensive wildfires, with Spain experiencing over 362,000 hectares burned in three weeks. The death toll from fires in Portugal has risen to four, and French units have been assisting firefighting efforts in Spain. The European Union health agency described the rise in mosquito-borne diseases as a "new normal" driven by climate change. The EU is also facing its worst wildfire season on record, with Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus experiencing fires 22% more intense and 10 times more likely due to climate change. In the UK, London has endured four heatwaves and 64 wildfires this summer, marking the hottest summer on record. In the United States, health officials in Douglas are investigating a potential West Nile virus case after detecting the virus in a mosquito pool, urging the public to use repellents and eliminate standing water to prevent infection.