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Longer Seasons, Wider Spread: Mosquito-Borne Threats

Mosquito-borne diseases have posed major public health threats for centuries. From Malaria’s historical toll on human populations to more recent outbreaks of Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya, these mosquito-borne diseases continue to cause widespread morbidity and mortality. Today, global warming, expanded urbanization, and increased travel accelerate the spread of invasive mosquito vectors and extend their active seasons.

Climate Change & Expanded Transmission

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (the so-called “tiger mosquito”) now transmit multiple pathogens across new geographies. Longer, warmer summers allow vectors to survive and reproduce in regions that were previously unsuitable, exposing more than 5.6 billion people to arbovirus risk. 

• Warmer temperatures prolong mosquito breeding seasons. 

• Aedes and Anopheles species now establish populations in temperate zones. 

• Urban growth and travel promote virus introduction into receptive areas with active vectors. 

Chikungunya 

Epidemiology

Resurgent in 2025 with over 220,000 cases and 80 deaths across 14 regions. Major outbreaks reported on Indian Ocean islands (Réunion ~66 % of population infected, Mayotte, Mauritius), Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan), and Africa (Senegal, Kenya, Somalia). Local transmission confirmed in France and Italy. 

Clinical features

Sudden fever, severe joint and muscle pain, rash, headache, fatigue. In up to 40 % of patients, joint pain persists for months or longer. 

Dengue

Epidemiology

Dengue incidence continues rising in tropical regions and has resulted in hundreds of thousands of cases per year globally. In Europe, autochthonous cases (e.g., 304 local cases in recent seasons) have increased.

Clinical features

High fever, headache, severe muscle and joint pain, rash, bleeding in severe forms, potential progression to dengue hemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome. 

Zika 

Epidemiology

Though past outbreaks have subsided, low-level transmission continues in tropical areas, and monitoring in non-endemic regions remains crucial.

Clinical features

Rash, mild fever, conjunctivitis, arthralgia; severe risk to fetuses (microcephaly, neurologic effects) if infection occurs during pregnancy. 

Malaria

Epidemiology

Caused by Plasmodium species transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Although mostly confined to tropical climates, climate change is expanding into risk zones. Millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths continue annually in endemic countries. 

Clinical features

Cyclical fevers, chills, anemia, and organ failure in severe cases.

Diagnostics & Molecular Testing 

Real-Time PCR offers high sensitivity and specificity for early detection of Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, Malaria, and West Nile virus.
Examples for related Bosphore Kits include: 

  • Bosphore Dengue-Chikungunya Detection Kit (targets Dengue and Chikungunya virus RNA) 
  • Bosphore Zika-Dengue-Chikungunya Detection Kit v1 (triplex assay for Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya virus) 
  • Bosphore Malaria Genotyping Kit v2 (detects and characterizes P. falciparum, vivax, malariae, ovale, and knowlesi from whole blood, serum, plasma, saliva, and urine samples.) 
  • Bosphore Tropical Fever Panel Kit v1 (comprehensive panel detecting and characterizing Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Salmonella enterica, Plasmodium vivax, Dengue virus, Chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, Leptospira spp., and Plasmodium ovale DNA and RNA)  

These IVD-CE marked, internally controlled assays support rapid, accurate diagnostics across multiple pathogens, enabling clinical and public health laboratories to respond effectively. 

Related Kits

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