2023-06-22 12:27:00
From . – 06/22/2023 12:27 (act. 06/22/2023 12:27)
“In 2022 we detected the Asian tiger mosquito in all federal states,” explained the AGES experts. ©APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER (symbol image)
“Especially in Vienna and Graz, this species occurs in large numbers,” say the AGES experts with regard to the Asian tiger mosquito.
The EU health authority ECDC warns of an increasing risk of diseases transmitted by gnats, mosquitoes and gnats due to the changing climatic conditions. The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), for example, a well-known carrier of chikungunya and dengue viruses, is spreading further north and west in Europe, the Stockholm-based authority said on Thursday.
Yellow fever mosquito: spread to other European countries?
The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) has therefore established itself in Cyprus since last year and could also spread to other European countries. It transmits dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses, among others.
The reason for the growing danger is climate change. Europe is getting warmer, heat waves and floods are becoming more frequent and severe, summers are longer and warmer, ECDC wrote. This creates more favorable conditions for invasive species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. Ten years ago, the Asian tiger mosquito was detected in eight countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), now there are 13. The number of regions affected has almost tripled over the period.
spread observed
In recent years, a geographical spread of invasive mosquito species into previously unaffected areas in the EU and EEA has been observed, said German ECDC Director Andrea Ammon. “If this continues, we can expect more cases and possible deaths from diseases like dengue, chikungunya and West Nile fever.” The focus must be on controlling mosquito populations, improving surveillance and enforcing personal protection measures.
Asian tiger mosquito is spreading in Central Europe
The Asian tiger mosquito has been native to southern Europe for some time, and for some time now it has also been spreading to Central Europe. It can transmit dozens of viruses, including potentially deadly pathogens such as dengue, chikungunya and zika viruses. In Germany, there is no known case of such an infection, but there are in neighboring countries: In southern France, for example, Zika infections caused by native tiger mosquitoes have been reported several times. There have been proven dengue infections in Madeira, Croatia and France, for example. Chikungunya outbreaks have also occurred in the Mediterranean region.
“In 2022 we detected the Asian tiger mosquito in all federal states”
According to AGES (Agency for Health and Food Safety), around 50 different species of mosquitoes have been detected in Austria. With nationwide monitoring, special attention has been paid to the Asian bush mosquito and tiger mosquito for several years. In August 2011, the bush mosquito was detected for the first time in Austria – in southern Styria, and in the same year in a sample from Lower Austria in a native house mosquito (Culex pipiens) the West Nile virus. The tiger mosquito has also been discovered. “Especially in Vienna and Graz, this species occurs in large numbers, and it can be assumed that these populations will also overwinter here. In 2022 we detected the Asian tiger mosquito in all federal states,” according to the AGES experts.
The risk of becoming infected in Austria and developing West Nile fever is “currently still very low”, it is emphasized. A total of 55 domestically acquired cases were confirmed between 2010 and 2022. The likely places of infection can be found in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. So far, according to the AGES website, there has been no human death. Dengue virus infections are diagnosed 30 to 120 times a year in this country, so far “without exception in travelers returning from endemic areas”.
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