As dengue fever continues to spread throughout Europe, experts are blaming an invasive mosquito species as the culprit. Known as “tiger mosquitoes,” the insects — of the species name Aedes albopictus — have spread into 13 EU countries, according to an alert from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Elitza Theel, PhD, director of Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Minnesota, confirmed that tiger mosquitoes are a “known vector” for dengue virus and can transmit the virus to individuals who have not previously been infected.
“This mosquito species is concerning for a number of reasons, including that it is considered the most invasive species in the world,” she told Fox News Digital. “Although typically considered a tropical mosquito, it is able to survive in cooler climates.”
The mosquito species is moving further north globally as temperatures grow warmer, the expert said. “Tiger mosquitoes are also rather aggressive, biting both humans and animals at any time of the day, rather than just at dawn or dusk, which is typical of other mosquito species,” Theel warned.
Health officials claimed that climate change is one of the factors contributing to the spread of these insects.
“Europe is already seeing how climate change is creating more favorable conditions for invasive mosquitoes to spread into previously unaffected areas and infect more people with diseases such as dengue,” said Andrea Ammon, ECDC director, in a press release from the agency.
“Dengue fever is a virus spread through bites from an infected mosquito. It is common in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Islands, among other countries,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Typical symptoms include aches and pains (in the eyes, muscles, joints or bones), nausea, vomiting, and rash, usually experienced within two weeks of being bitten. Most people experience symptoms for two to seven days before recovering.
“It’s typically a more mild illness, but can be severe, causing headaches, joint pain, fever, abdominal pain and even death,” Dr. Mark Fischer, regional medical director of International SOS, a leading medical and security services company, told Fox News Digital.
One of the reasons for the higher rate of infection is due to the fact that the tiger mosquito, the carrier of dengue, has adapted to living in urban environments and alongside humans,” said Pennsylvania-based Fischer.
Mosquitoes are considered the world’s deadliest animal because they transmit so many dangerous pathogens, with dengue being the most common. While dengue is one of the “most concerning viral pathogens” that mosquitoes transmit, they also transmit malaria, Chikungunya virus, Zika virus, and dirofilaria, a parasitic nematode, to both dogs and humans.
“The West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus are some of the mosquito-borne viruses that we are concerned with annually in the U.S., all of which can lead to severe neurologic disease and sequelae,” Theel added.
Prevention methods include wearing insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, using mosquito nets when sleeping, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
In conclusion, the spread of tiger mosquitoes and the diseases they carry pose a serious threat to global health. It is crucial for individuals to take preventive measures to avoid mosquito-borne illnesses and stay informed about risks in their local areas.