Mosquitos capable of transmitting dengue found breeding in UK for first time
Invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, known carriers of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, have been found actively breeding in east London for the first time. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has initiated an eradication program, though they currently believe the risk to the British public is not significant. This discovery follows the establishment of the species in Cyprus and raises concerns about climate change enabling invasive populations in new regions.
Why it matters
This marks a significant public health concern for the UK, as the establishment of disease-carrying mosquito populations could lead to the local transmission of tropical diseases like dengue, previously uncommon in the region, potentially impacting healthcare systems and public safety.
This follows the establishment of an invasive mosquito population in a region of Cyprus.
The UKHSA does not believe that the identified breeding mosquitos pose significant meaningful harm to the British public. Credit: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has begun a programme to eradicate a population of disease-carrying mosquitoes after they were identified at multiple residential properties in east London.
Upon the discovery of these invasive mosquitoes, the UKHSA has implemented several control measures to curb their spread. This includes destroying A. aegypti larvae, while closely monitoring the impacted areas to ensure a population doesn’t establish.
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
While Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been spotted several times in the UK in recent years, this is the first evidence of them actively breeding in Britain.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in