Europe’s heatwaves are fuelling infectious diseases, health agency warns

Europe’s longer, warmer summers are increasingly fuelling the spread of infectious diseases, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns. The agency says persistently higher temperatures and longer warm seasons create better conditions for infections, including foodborne illnesses, mosquito-borne diseases, tick-borne illnesses and vibriosis in coastal waters. It stresses that border-spanning cooperation and longer-term planning are essential. The ECDC highlights specific prevention steps such as food hygiene, mosquito controls and protective clothing outdoors.