2023-06-29 09:00:03
Eliminate breeding grounds and protect against mosquito bites
Vienna (OTS) – The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) was introduced to Vienna in 2020 for the first time in the south-eastern green belt along the main traffic routes. The tiger mosquitoes overwintered there and occasionally spread further into adjacent residential areas and garden settlements. The tiger mosquito has also been sighted at inner-city long-distance bus stops in recent years.
The tiger mosquito is on its way to the city: on the one hand, travel and long-distance traffic favor the constant introduction of new ones. On the other hand, settled tiger mosquitoes adapt better and better to the weather conditions – including milder winters. The spread of the tiger mosquito should be prevented, as it also bites during the day and can also transmit diseases when it bites. The most effective and safest countermeasure is consistent avoidance of water accumulation in the home and garden and self-protection from stings with suitable clothing and insect repellents (repellents).
Occurrence and spread of the tiger mosquito tracked by the City of Vienna and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna since 2017
Occurrence and spread of the tiger mosquito are tracked with the adapted monitoring program for the mosquito population in Vienna: the monitoring program was developed by the City of Vienna together with the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. Since 2017, mosquitoes have been collected from May to September at measuring points in various urban habitats and climate zones. On the one hand, newly introduced mosquito species are discovered early on. This also includes the individual specimens of the tiger mosquito discovered for the first time in the summer months of 2020 in the south-eastern green belt of the city along the major traffic arteries.
On the other hand, the collection results, together with weather data, allow the West Nile Virus transmission risk to be assessed and countermeasures to be determined by the City of Vienna’s health service.
Colder spring 2023 led to lower registration of mosquito numbers
Because it was too cold in the spring for a long time, the monitoring program registered a significantly lower number of mosquitoes at the beginning of the season this year. It can be assumed that the tiger mosquitoes will continue to multiply with the onset of summer temperatures, especially in the original sites in the south-eastern green belt and will spread to settlement areas in the wider area, including outside the green belt.
So far this year, no flaviviruses (West Nile virus, dengue viruses) have been found in mosquitoes or tiger mosquitoes. It is currently unlikely that tiger mosquitoes will transmit chikungunya or dengue viruses in Austria, since they would first have to become infected themselves when returning from sick travellers. Other natural hosts of these diseases do not occur here.
When taking measures, the health service of the City of Vienna takes current research results into account: this also includes the studies by the University of Veterinary Medicine on preferred entry options through long-distance traffic and at long-distance bus stops and train stations in Vienna. In this way, residents can be informed in a targeted and situation-adapted manner to avoid breeding sites and mosquito bites.
Why stop the spread of the tiger mosquito?
The diurnal tiger mosquito can become very annoying and also transmit pathogens such as the West Nile virus. Therefore, we all have to stop their permanent establishment and strong reproduction early on by consistently avoiding breeding grounds in our homes and gardens. The larger the tiger mosquito population, the more difficult it is to contain it.
Help stop the tiger mosquito from reproducing!
Tiger mosquito eggs only need small amounts of moisture to survive: when gardening, on terraces or balconies, remember to drain breeding sites (possibly with eggs) and not to create new breeding sites. Vessels, containers such as trivets, bird baths should be emptied and wiped dry if possible. When storing, remember to turn containers, garden furniture, wheelbarrows or the like upside down. Do not bring content into the channel, but empty it on the meadow.
Additional information
Information material and Gelsen-(R)AUS! tips are available from the Health Service of the City of Vienna (Link) and from the Agency for Health and Food Safety (Link)
Interested fellow citizens can use the Mosquito Alert app to report findings to the experts at AGES or veterinary medicine. (Link)
Questions & contact:
City of Vienna – MA 15 Health Service
Sonja Vicht
Tel.: +43 1 4000 87567
E-Mail: [email protected]
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