The pain of a mosquito bite is annoying enough, but unfortunately mosquitoes can also transmit diseases. A well-known example of this is the malaria parasite. Fortunately, this is not a big problem in Europe. But what about other diseases? Ronald van Rij: “Exotic mosquitoes are on the rise in Europe. In Italy, Spain, the South of France and the Balkans, the Asian tiger mosquito is already common in certain periods. This mosquito can carry various viruses, including the Chikungunya virus and the Dengue virus.”
An important cause of the advance is climate change, which means that these originally tropical mosquitoes feel at home in increasingly northern areas. A second source is the international car tire trade. Water remains in tires and standing water is the ideal environment for mosquito larvae. The mosquitoes are thus piggybacking on the transport of car tires from tropical regions to Europe.
Poke through the clothes
“In Italy there have been Chikungunya outbreaks in the past with a few hundred cases,” says Van Rij. A Chikungunya infection leads to a high fever and joint pain. Dengue, also known as dengue fever, also causes a high fever and is also occasionally found in Europe. Fortunately, it has remained with minor outbreaks or individual cases of illness for the time being.
No outbreaks have been reported this summer. Van Rij: “This means that there is currently no circulation of these viruses in Europe. The risk of infection is therefore very small. If you come back from vacation with a severe and inexplicable fever, you should of course ring the bell.” Even though they usually don’t carry disease, the Asian tiger mosquito is annoying enough. “This mosquito is very aggressive, they can even sting through clothing,” says Van Rij.
House-garden-and-kitchen mosquito
And what about the ‘normal’ mosquito? Van Rij: “These are not entirely harmless. Nowadays, some carry the West Nile virus.” It is suspected that rising temperatures and prolonged drought contribute to the arrival of this virus. You can also become ill from the West Nile virus, although an infection only leads to serious symptoms in one percent of cases. “Two years ago, this virus was first found in the Netherlands, but so far the number of cases is still very limited,” says Van Rij.
Sleeping under mosquito net
Prevention is of course better than cure, so how do we keep the mosquitoes away from us? Van Rij: “Applying insect repellents such as DEET to the skin or clothing is effective.” Mosquitoes no longer smell our skin because of DEET and are also repelled by it. So they start looking for another victim. “Covering your skin with clothing also works well in many cases, just like sleeping under a mosquito net. In Europe there is no need for vaccines against the tropical diseases that the mosquitoes transmit. They are still too rare for that.”
By: National Care Guide
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