Tiger mosquito;
Credit: Pixabay
Luxembourg's Ministry of Health has confirmed the detection of the invasive (Asian) tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) for the first time in the Grand Duchy.
A tiger mosquito population has been detected in two sites in the municipality of Roeser. An international expert in the field recently confirmed this first appearance of the invasive mosquito species in Luxembourg.
The Health Ministry noted that, based on current information, this is a limited phenomenon. The tiger mosquito moves little and generally does not travel more than 100 metres around its birthplace.
The use of insecticides is currently under study. However, eradication would primarily be through the removal of potential habitats.
In the coming days, the Luxembourg authorities, with the support of an expert, will assess the situation on site, as well as setting up a prevention plan and a monitoring and eradication system.
The tiger mosquito is an invasive insect native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It can be recognised by its black silhouette and its white stripes on its abdomen and legs. It is usually small in size (less than a centimetre).
The tiger mosquito has already been detected in other European countries, but this is the first time it has been detected in Luxembourg. A map of the proliferation of Aedes albopictus in Europe can be consulted on the website of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/aedes-albopictus-current-known-distribution-march-2022
The tiger mosquito can transmit certain tropical diseases. To be able to do so, the mosquito must first infect itself by drawing blood from a sick person. The ministry assured that the Health Directorate currently has no evidence to suggest that this is the case. Nevertheless, preventive measures are advisable in order to try to eliminate this mosquito.
Unlike local mosquitoes, which generally bite at night and inside one's home, the tiger mosquito bites more during the day, mainly in the morning and evening, and it is silent.
To avoid mosquito bites, wearing loose, long clothing that cover one's skin and applying mosquito repellents remain the most effective preventive measures. The Health Ministry assured that there was no reason to treat tiger mosquito bites differently from those of native mosquitoes.
