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Tiger mosquitoes are much more dangerous than the well-known to us and numerous in Poland – the moth mosquito or the buzzing mosquito. So far, it has not been officially confirmed that this species has reached Poland, although it has been seen in our neighbors – in Germany, the Czech Republic or Slovakia. What do you need to know about the tiger mosquito? How to recognize it?

In Europe, the tiger mosquito was first spotted in 1975. These insects do not transmit malaria, but they can cause many other tropical diseases, including dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya fever and West Nile fever. Tiger mosquitoes are longer than the mosquitoes we know, and their bodies are covered with white spots and stripes.

  1. Six things mosquitoes attract like a magnet

The occurrence of the tiger mosquito

So far not found yet the presence of the tiger mosquito in Poland. Last year, such information appeared, but in the end it was not officially confirmed. It occurs mainly in Asia and East Africa, but in the 70s it was also observed for the first time in Europe, in Albania. Later, in the 90s, tiger mosquitoes were discovered in France and Italy. In recent years, insects have also reached very close to Polish borders – to Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany.

The warming climate has contributed to the appearance of tiger mosquitoes in Europe. As a result of these changes, insects are able to overwinter in areas where they previously did not exist. It is therefore possible that they will also reach Poland over time.

To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, get the Sanity Tick & Mosquito Kit, which includes a repellent spray and a preparation for freezing and removing ticks. We also recommend a travel kit for ticks, mosquitoes and fluff with repellent plasters and a tick remover spray. When you buy the second set, you will receive a disinfectant spray for free. See the full range of mosquito remedies available on Medonet Market.

Check it out: The plague of tiger mosquitoes in France

What does a tiger mosquito look like?

In terms of size, the tiger mosquito may resemble the buzzing mosquitoes and moths found in Poland, but some specimens may be up to 4 mm longer, thus reaching 10 mm in length. The appearance of a tiger mosquito it is also quite distinctive due to the colors. On the dark abdomen and legs of the insect you can see white stripes and dots.

Tiger Mosquito-Borne Diseases

The threat posed to humans by tiger mosquitoes stems from the risk of these insects transmitting serious tropical diseases:

  1. dengue – although the main source of dengue infection is Egyptian mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), they are also spread by tiger mosquitoes; the disease gives flu-like symptoms with a rash, can turn into a hemorrhagic form with ecchymosis and bleeding from the mucous membranes, as well as lead to shock, severe complications and death;
  2. West Nile fever – the disease is accompanied by symptoms typical of flu, and in more serious cases also muscle weakness, nausea and vomiting, problems with coordination and disturbed consciousness; complications of West Nile fever include chronic fatigue, memory problems, and meningitis;
  3. chikungunya fever – the main symptoms of the disease are fever and joint pain, which may also persist for months or years after recovery; if complications occur in the course of the disease, they most often affect the eyes, heart and nervous system; there is no vaccination or specific drug for chikungunya fever, symptomatic treatment is applied;
  4. yellow fever (yellow fever) – the disease is accompanied by flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle pain, weakness), photophobia, nausea, vomiting, and in a severe phase also jaundice, haematuria, abdominal pain or bleeding from mucous membranes; fever can lead to kidney failure, inflammation of the brain and heart muscle; you can get vaccinated against yellow fever.

Tiger mosquitoes can also be a source of infection with the Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus or Sindbis virus (SINV).

Check it out: Travel vaccinations – how much does it cost?

How to protect yourself from tiger mosquitoes?

Due to the health risk posed by tiger mosquitoes, preventing bites is crucial. You can protect yourself from these insects by wearing appropriate clothing in the countries where they occur (covering as much of your skin as possible, including your arms and legs) and avoiding water bodies. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved repellants, including DEET, icaridin, IR3535, PMD, IBI-246, and lemon eucalyptus oil, are recommended for use in repelling mosquitoes.

Read also:

  1. Mosquito and tick repellants can endanger your health
  2. Tropical viruses. Ebola virus, Lassa virus and others

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