Asian tiger mosquito detected in 43 Hessen municipalities

The invasive Asian tiger mosquito has been registered in 43 municipalities within the German state of Hessen. Frequent sightings have been reported particularly in the districts of Bergstraße, Darmstadt-Dieburg, and Main-Taunus-Kreis.

While the mosquito is a potential carrier of viruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika, the Hessen Ministry of Health stated that no transmission of these pathogens to humans has been detected in the region so far. The species, originally from Southeast Asia, is believed to have spread through global trade and travel.

To prevent breeding, health authorities recommend eliminating standing water in items such as plant saucers, rain barrels, birdbaths, and gutters. Residents can assist monitoring efforts by sending captured mosquitoes or photographs to the Ministry’s climate change department.