INCREASED RISK OF INFECTIONS BY THE 'TIGER' MOSQUITO

 Pafos Live 19 June 2024

The rapid population spread of the Asian Tiger mosquito and its ability to transmit infectious diseases make immediate action imperative in Cyprus and across Europe. The Cyprus Institute's Centre for Climate and Atmospheric Research through its Early Warning Decision Support platform, VEClim, recently published new estimates highlighting the increased risk of spreading dengue and other mosquito-borne infectious diseases in Europe. The VEClim data highlight the urgent need for intensive mosquito monitoring and preventive measures to protect public health in the coming months.

Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, including the Asian "Tiger" mosquito, a highly invasive species that stands out with its characteristic black and white stripes. The mosquito first arrived in Europe in the 1970s and has since spread, aided by climate change, across the continent, increasing the risk of epidemics and posing a major threat to public health.

The role of VEClim as an Early Warning System

VEClim supports early warning systems using climate models of mosquito activity and epidemic risk. In its recent update, VEClim published a series of estimates on its online portal (https://veclim.com) based on extensive models of mosquito population and disease spread. These estimates suggest that most of Europe is vulnerable to a possible establishment of the Tiger mosquito, predicting frequent, though relatively limited, local outbreaks of dengue, and possibly other similar diseases. VEClim's predictions are supported by the identification of high-risk areas with the 275 local cases of endemic dengue reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) between 2010 and 2023.

WHAT IS THE 'TIGER' MOSQUITO?

The Tiger Mosquito: A Tiny but Deadly Invader

Meet Aedes albopictus, a mosquito also known as the tiger mosquito or the forest mosquito. It is native to Southeast Asia, but has spread to many other regions through human activities.

A species of mosquito that is considered a potential vector for Zika transmission among humans.

Diet
blood, nectar, sweet plant juices

A single silvery-white line of tight scales begins between the eyes and continues down the dorsal side of the thorax. This characteristic marking is the easiest and surest way to identify them.

The female lays her eggs near water, not directly into it as other mosquitoes do, but typically near a stagnant pool.

Significant pest in many communities because it closely associates with humans (rather than living in wetlands), and typically flies and feeds in the daytime in addition to at dusk and dawn.

The Asian tiger mosquito has a rapid bite and an agility that allows it to escape most attempts by people to swat it.

In 1894, a British-Australian entomologist, Frederick A. Askew Skuse, was the first to scientifically describe the Asian tiger mosquito, which he named Culex albopictus.

Asian tiger mosquitoes, the most aggressive invasive mosquito, fly only about 100-200 yards from their breeding grounds. If you and your family feel mosquitoes biting you, especially during the day or if mosquitoes follow you into your home or vehicle then these demons are probably Asian tiger mosquitoes and their breeding grounds are nearby.

Unlike our native mosquito species that breed in larger wet areas, such as bogs, marshes and retention ponds, Asian tiger mosquitoes, accustomed to breeding in bamboo stalks and inside trees, prefer small, manmade objects. To eliminate breeding grounds on your property, empty water from receptacles around your home, including:

• Small, plastic kids’ toys
• Patio furniture, especially upturned chairs and tables
• Plant containers, especially those with saucers
• Buckets, pails, watering cans, trash cans and their lids
• Wheelbarrows
• Tarps and boat covers

Other breeding grounds can be eliminated by replacing corrugated drainpipes with smooth PVC pipes and by changing birdbath water at least once a week.

After eliminating Asian tiger breeding grounds, adult Asian tiger mosquitoes may still be biting you and your family. Commercial insecticide sprays, introducing predatory larvae and performing barrier treatments might take care of your Asian tiger mosquito problem.