Europe sees first native cases of Zika

European health officials recently confirmed the first native cases of Zika virus on the continent. Imported cases of the mosquito-borne disease have been frequently reported, but with these new cases — in three patients in southern France — local mosquitoes transmitted Zika. The cases were likely part of the same transmission cycle as the patients developed symptoms within a few days of each other in August this year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The patients have since recovered. The agency also said that cooler temperatures now mean a lower likelihood for more such cases. At the same time, other experts have warned that rising global temperatures could mean favorable conditions for mosquitoes, and mosquito-borne illnesses could rise in places where they haven’t historically been a problem.