As World Warms, Newly Virulent Chikungunya Virus Spreads To Europe - 100+ Cases Confirmed In Italy

[hatrack]

As feared, the chikungunya virus has begun spreading in Europe. In June, a few people near Ravenna in north-east Italy developed a fever with severe joint pain, but by mid-August there were more than 100 cases.

The Italian government has confirmed that the culprit is chikungunya virus, a previously rare, mild infection spread by mosquitoes, that has mutated into a virulent, rapidly spreading strain. Since 2005, it has infected at least 1.4 million people in India and on islands in the Indian Ocean and may have killed thousands.

Italian officials blame the outbreak on warm weather and unusually high numbers of mosquitoes, but as New Scientist went to press no more new cases had come to light in recent days.

EDIT (Subscription service)

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19526203.200;jsessionid=DDLADHFOCIHB