Mosquitoes in Hungary may spread extremely dangerous tropical diseases
A quiet summer evening—sitting on the terrace, sipping drinks, sharing stories with friends—can quickly be interrupted by that constant buzzing and the need to swat away hungry bloodsuckers, as itchy red bumps begin to appear all over the body. Sound familiar? It now appears that Hungarian mosquitoes may not just be a nuisance—they could be spreading dangerously serious diseases.
Mosquitoes in Hungary may spread dangerous diseases
According to an ATV report, two extremely dangerous mosquito-borne diseases have recently been identified in Hungary: dengue fever and malaria. There are no direct cures for these illnesses—dengue fever is a viral infection (though a vaccine does exist), while malaria is caused by a parasite. In severe cases, only supportive treatments are available.
At present, only the symptoms can be alleviated, and they can be severe. Malaria infects between 350 and 500 million people globally each year, resulting in over a million deaths. Due in part to climate change, dengue fever is becoming increasingly common in Europe. Hungary in particular has experienced a rapid rise in cases, largely because the disease-carrying Asian tiger mosquito has now established itself in the country. According to Euronews, by mid-June 2025, twice as many people in Europe had contracted the disease as in the entire previous year.
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How to protect yourself from mosquitoes
There is some good news: neither disease spreads from person to person. Biologist József Majer notes that mosquitoes in Hungary can only transmit these diseases if they have bitten an already infected individual and the virus or parasite has multiplied within their system—a relatively rare occurrence. All reported cases in Hungary have involved individuals who had recently travelled to tropical regions before showing symptoms.
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So, what precautions should you take when travelling to such areas? First, use mosquito repellent consistently. Second, follow any preventative treatment prescribed by your doctor.
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