Mosquito season has officially arrived in Belgium, according to health institute Sciensano and the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine (IMT). Both organisations are calling on citizens to keep an eye out for the tiger mosquito, an invasive species that poses significant health risks.
"The tiger mosquito is not just a nuisance, but it also represents a health risk as it can transmit viruses such as dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika from one person to another," said IMT entomologist Isra Deblauwe. "It is therefore essential to keep a close eye on the tiger mosquito so that we can intervene quickly and limit its spread."
Citizens are urged to report any sightings of the black and yellow insects via the official website or a newly developed application called 'SurveillanceMoustiques'.
Sciensano notes that citizen observations allowed for the mapping of mosquitos in 25 different locations last year – double the number of locations as in the previous year. Seven of these sightings were in car parks and 18 were in private gardens. This data helps to prevent the further spread of the insect across Belgium.
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"Reports from the public are very important and have demonstrated that the tiger mosquito is present in a greater number of places each year," stated Sciensano researcher Javiera Rebolledo Romero. "These locations are not always accessible for surveillance as they are often private properties in residential areas."
Geography-wise, there were concentrations of mosquitoes in Ath in Wallonia, and Kessel-lo, near Leuven. Sciensano warns that people travelling from southern Europe via car or camper van risk bringing the insect back into their homes. Plant pots coming from areas where tiger mosquitoes are already well-established are particularly likely to be infested with eggs.
