Flanders steps up fight against tiger mosquitoes
Flanders is stepping up its fight against the Asian tiger mosquito, an exotic species that can carry diseases such as dengue and Zika. Due to global warming, this species is appearing more frequently in Belgium.
Since 2021, the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests, Sciensano and the Institute of Tropical Medicine have been working together to monitor the spread of the tiger mosquito in the region.
A few years ago, Sciensano set up a platform where citizens can report sightings of tiger mosquitoes. Last year, 47 reports were registered, spread across 21 Belgian municipalities. In 2022, reports were received from only 12 locations.
Permanently established in five places
Over the past three years, the species has been found in 21 Flemish municipalities. As the mosquito mainly spreads by hitching a ride on passenger and freight traffic, most reports come from municipalities along motorways.
According to Sciensano, inspections this year confirmed the overwintering of the mosquito in Aat, Kessel-Lo and Puurs-Sint-Amands. Along with Wilrijk and Lebbeke, where overwintering was observed in 2023, the total number of places in Belgium with a permanently established tiger mosquito population now stands at five.
Brussels-Antwerp-Ghent triangle
The tiger mosquito population is currently mainly concentrated in the triangle between Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent, according to Dominique Debie of Rentokil, a British company that has been responsible for controlling the mosquito in Flanders for several years.
"We must therefore do everything we can to prevent further spread”
“The chance of the mosquito disappearing from our region is small, but the longer we can delay its permanent establishment, the better. We must therefore do everything we can to prevent further spread,” said Debie.
Control measures and awareness
Control measures include checking rain barrels in public vegetable gardens, since stagnant water provides an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. “We add a larvicide to the barrels, which kills tiger mosquito larvae. We also carry out checks and implement prevention measures in residents' homes within the perimeter.”
In May, Flanders launched an awareness campaign to curb the spread of tiger mosquitoes in the region. Information was provided on control measures, precautions, and health risks. Residents were also urged to remove breeding sites.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO CRISTOPHE GEYRES / ABACAPRESS.COM
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