EUROPE – Move over snow globes and fridge magnets: Europe’s hottest travel trend of 2025 is bringing home your very own exotic virus.
With rising temperatures helping dengue, West Nile, and chikungunya hitch rides in tourist suitcases, travel agencies have seized the opportunity to market new “Pathogen Packages.”
For €299, adventurers can book the Bronze Viral Experience—a week in the Mediterranean, complete with mild fever, rash, and an Instagram story captioned “When life gives you mosquitoes, make dengue-nade.”
Those seeking premium thrills can opt for the Platinum Pathogen Plus, which includes guaranteed mosquito bites, expedited PCR results, and a free tote bag reading “I Went to Greece and All I Got Was This Virus.”
Airlines are reportedly considering charging extra for passengers who board with mosquito stowaways, branding it a “bio-cultural exchange fee.” Meanwhile, European health agencies have launched campaigns reminding tourists that “not every souvenir needs antibiotics.”
Despite warnings, reviews are glowing. One British traveler described his West Nile experience as “more authentic than tapas” and another raved, “It’s the closest I’ve felt to becoming a true local—flat on my back with a 40-degree fever.”