Portugal releases sterile mosquitoes as Europe's dengue threat spreads north
Italy and France report locally acquired dengue cases at roughly twice the 2025 total, as EU and national authorities work to prevent mosquito-borne diseases becoming endemic
In September, Portugal released 30,000 sterile male mosquitoes in a second attempt to curb the growing tiger mosquito population. By the end of October, the reported locally acquired dengue cases in Italy and France were roughly twice the 2025 total, while health authorities were working to ensure mosquito-borne diseases do not become endemic in Europe.