Surveillance-based insights into mosquito-borne disease trends: Implications for public health in Poland and Europe (2018–2024)

INTRODUCTION: Mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a significant global health challenge, driven by environmental, climatic, and socio-demographic factors. This study investigates the epidemiological trends of malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, and West Nile virus (WNV) in Poland and Europe, from 2018 to 2024, with a focus on regional differences, local transmission, and temporal dynamics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were obtained from national and international surveillance systems. Annual case counts for each disease, including autochthonous cases, were analyzed using Poisson regression models, with calendar year as a continuous predictor. Trends were assessed for Poland (2018-2024) and Europe (2018-2023). RESULTS: In Poland, 521 cases were reported across the study period, with a significantly increasing trend in total case counts for malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. WNV showed a non-significant increase. In Europe, a significant reduction in total cases was observed from 2018 to 2023, including declines in malaria, chikungunya, and WNV, while dengue cases showed a modest but significant increase. Analysis of autochthonous cases revealed a significant overall decrease in malaria and WNV, but a significant increase in dengue cases. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight contrasting regional and transmission-specific trends, with increasing incidence in Poland, declining total and local transmission in Europe, and a rise in autochthonous dengue cases. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening surveillance and response strategies tailored to the dynamic patterns of vector-borne diseases.