SCIENCE · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Invasive Mosquitoes Found Breeding in East London
WHY IT MATTERS
The presence of invasive mosquitoes in the UK highlights the potential for mosquito-borne diseases to spread in the country, particularly as the climate warms and the threat of disease transmission is expected to rise over time.
What happened
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can transmit infections like dengue and Zika virus, have been found breeding in residential properties in east London. This is the first time the species has been found breeding in the UK.
The UKHSA has destroyed the larvae and promised to monitor the area closely to eradicate any further mosquitoes and larvae. The threat to public health remains low, with no evidence of transmission to people.
The discovery is seen as an 'early warning rather than an immediate public health threat'.
PRIMARY SOURCES
How worried should we be about the invasive mosquitoes in the UK?
New Scientist · Madeleine Cuff · Discovery and factual synthesis only; publisher copyright and subscription terms apply