Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and larvae – which can transmit infections like dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus – have been found breeding in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced on 3 September that the species has been detected at residential properties in east London. This marks the fourth time it has been detected in the UK in recent years, and the first time its been found breeding.
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Here’s what you need to know. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are native to North Africa but can be found in tropical and temperate regions around the world, including parts of Europe. Although the species has been found in the UK before, this is the first time these mosquitoes have been found breeding in the country.
This species can transmit many different pathogens, inlcuding dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika virus. It commonly feeds at dusk and dawn, and indoors and in shady areas. According to the UKHSA, the mosquitoes and larvae were found breeding in residential properties in East London.
They were spotted and reported under the government’s Mosquito Watch scheme, which aims to detect the presence of invasive mosquitoes. The UKHSA said the larvae have been destroyed and promised the area will be monitored closely to eradicate any further mosquitoes and larvae that might emerge. The UKHSA insists the threat to public health remains very low.
There is no evidence the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes found in London have transmitted any infections to people, and so far there have not been any more mosquitoes or larvae being found in nearby public areas. César López-Camacho at the University of Oxford said in a statement to the Science Media Centre that the discovery of their presence should be seen as an “early warning rather than an immediate public health threat”. It is worth noting the UK is home to many species of native mosquitoes, but these generally don’t carry serious infections, and are largely an annoyance rather than a public health threat.
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