Still on the risks that mosquitoes pose to public health and the economy, I dedicate today’s prose to the recent invasion of mainland Portugal by the “Asian tiger”.
It is interesting to know more about the challenges that lie ahead, especially because they can be, in large part, avoided by our own actions.
The mosquito is so called because it originates from Asia and, in terms of image, because it has white stripes that resemble the appearance of tigers on that continent. In addition to this morphological similarity, only the dangerousness of both can be evoked to explain the designation of Asian tiger mosquito.
The respective scientific name is Aedes albopictus. The expression indicating gender derives from the Greek: Aedes (nasty, hateful). The name of the species has its origins in Latin: albus (white) and painted (image, paintings).
Now, as happened in Madeira with the Aedes aegyptithe species Aedes albopictus it can transmit dengue fever, as well as other infections (Zika, for example).
I would like to emphasize, first of all, that infections are not contagious, as they are only acquired through mosquito bites (as long as they are infected). In other words, these are diseases only transmitted by mosquitoes, without the danger of transmission from one patient to another person.
These species of mosquitoes are classified as invasive because they have the ability to settle and multiply in regions where they did not previously exist, most likely related to current climate change (global warming).
The confirmation of the recent invasion of vast European regions by the Asian tiger mosquito is worrying. In Portugal, the Vector Surveillance Network, managed by the Ricardo Jorge Institute and the DGS, registered, until October 2025, the introduction of mosquito populations of this species in 29 municipalities, spread across all regions of the country.
For this reason, it is essential to inform (alert) people living in areas with invasive mosquitoes about the need to adopt individual measures to protect against bites: mosquito nets on windows and doors; judicious use of household insecticides; application of repellents; wearing a hat and clothing with long pants and shirt sleeves; elimination of flower pot plates so they do not retain irrigation water.
At municipal level, the Chamber-Public Health Unit collaboration is decisive to reduce mosquito breeding sites: draining stagnant water, cleaning urban and peri-urban spaces to banish the accumulation of waste capable of storing rainwater (tires, cans, glass…).
Essential control actions.
(Continues)
Former Director General of Health.
franciscogeorge@icloud.com