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Alarm in the Rhein-Sieg district: Asian tiger mosquitoes are spreading rapidly!
The Asian tiger mosquito was discovered in the Rhein-Sieg district. Health department calls for support of mosquito monitoring.
Alarm in the Rhein-Sieg district: Asian tiger mosquitoes are spreading rapidly!
The Asian tiger mosquito, known for its striking black and white pattern and active biting habits during the day, has now also found its way into the Rhein-Sieg district. The health department has reported a confirmed case in Königswinter, while a suspected case in Meckenheim is being investigated. These discoveries came about through tips from citizens as part of mosquito monitoring, as WDR reports.
The public is called upon to report sightings of this invasive mosquito species in order to detect its spread early. Citizens can enter sightings online in the mosquito atlas. In addition to reporting observations, it is recommended to avoid standing water and wear protective clothing during tiger mosquito active times of the day. With the aggressive biting style of tiger mosquitoes, they are a greater threat than our native mosquitoes.
A growing danger
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has become more widespread over the years. Its original distribution area is in East Asia, but since the 1980s this species has also been found in America and southern Europe. Eggs of this mosquito were first discovered in Germany in 2007, and its population has increased significantly since then, fueled by global trade and climate change, as National Geographic explains.
The Asian tiger mosquito can transmit over 20 different viruses, including dengue and Zika viruses. There are currently no known cases in this country in which a tiger mosquito has transmitted a pathogen, but there is concern about the increasing number of infections in other regions, such as Brazil or Bangladesh, and nearby countries such as France have already recorded Chikungunya infections.
Prevention and control
Fighting this invasive mosquito species is difficult. Since the use of chemical pesticides is often harmful to the environment and restricted by law, scientists are looking for environmentally friendly alternatives. An interesting development comes from researchers at the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, who are developing a ➔ “biological fire department” based on RNA interference (RNAi). This method could switch off specific mosquito genes and thus prevent their survival without harming other insects or humans, as also described on National Geographic.
Although the risk of a mosquito bite in Germany is currently assessed as low, anyone traveling to tropical regions should be careful and protect themselves from mosquito bites. The Robert Koch Institute reported over 700 dengue cases in 2023, three times as many as the previous year, further complicating the situation.
Given all these developments, it is important to be vigilant and take proactive measures to monitor the spread of the Asian tiger mosquito and intervene if necessary to protect the health of the population.