MAP: Tiger mosquitoes reach northern France
Tiger mosquitoes, which carry a range of potentially deadly diseases, have now been detected in northern France including Normandy, which had previously been spared.
The Normandy Regional Health Agency announced that they had detected tiger mosquitoes - which can carry deadly diseases such as dengue fever, zika and chikungunya - in the region, according to a memo published on Tuesday.
As a result, every French region now has tiger mosquitoes present. Previously, Normandy was the only region to not have detected the insect's presence.
Originally from Asia, the mosquitoes have been detected in Europe for several decades and have been gradually moving north through France, aided by the changing climate and warmer weather.
The health authorities specified in the memo that "at this time, no local transmission of any mosquito-related diseases have been found in Normandy."
The Normandy Regional Health Agency specified that they had observed tiger mosquitoes in the Seine-Maritime département, which means that the insect is present in 71 of France's 95 mainland départements, as seen in the map below (blue: present; white; not yet detected)
Tiger mosquito populations have been growing steadily in France for the last two decades, in part thanks to rising temperatures due to the climate crisis.
Experts have previously said they think that France will be fully colonised by 2030.
In even worse news, it seems that mosquito traps and repellents being tested by local authorities are not very effective.
Sleeping under a mosquito net will protect you at night, but unlike European mosquitoes, tiger mosquitoes come out during the day as well as at night.
The best advice that experts can offer is to make sure there is no standing water near your home, as this is where mosquitoes breed.
Researchers are currently looking into other methods of control such as sterilising female mosquitoes.
Although dengue fever, zika and chikungunya can prove fatal, they are rarely so with good medical treatment.
What do tiger mosquitoes look like?
They are very small, about 5 mm, and they have a 'highly contrasting colour, with black and white stripes on their body and legs.
Credit: Agence regionale santé normandie
If you believe you have spotted a tiger mosquito, you can report it to public health authorities online.
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The Normandy Regional Health Agency announced that they had detected tiger mosquitoes - which can carry deadly diseases such as dengue fever, zika and chikungunya - in the region, according to a memo published on Tuesday.
As a result, every French region now has tiger mosquitoes present. Previously, Normandy was the only region to not have detected the insect's presence.
Originally from Asia, the mosquitoes have been detected in Europe for several decades and have been gradually moving north through France, aided by the changing climate and warmer weather.
The health authorities specified in the memo that "at this time, no local transmission of any mosquito-related diseases have been found in Normandy."
The Normandy Regional Health Agency specified that they had observed tiger mosquitoes in the Seine-Maritime département, which means that the insect is present in 71 of France's 95 mainland départements, as seen in the map below (blue: present; white; not yet detected)
Tiger mosquito populations have been growing steadily in France for the last two decades, in part thanks to rising temperatures due to the climate crisis.
Experts have previously said they think that France will be fully colonised by 2030.
In even worse news, it seems that mosquito traps and repellents being tested by local authorities are not very effective.
Sleeping under a mosquito net will protect you at night, but unlike European mosquitoes, tiger mosquitoes come out during the day as well as at night.
The best advice that experts can offer is to make sure there is no standing water near your home, as this is where mosquitoes breed.
Researchers are currently looking into other methods of control such as sterilising female mosquitoes.
Although dengue fever, zika and chikungunya can prove fatal, they are rarely so with good medical treatment.
What do tiger mosquitoes look like?
They are very small, about 5 mm, and they have a 'highly contrasting colour, with black and white stripes on their body and legs.
If you believe you have spotted a tiger mosquito, you can report it to public health authorities online.
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