LONDON, Sept. 3 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is undertaking enhanced surveillance and trappingactivitiesfollowing the detection ofinvasiveAedes aegypti mosquitoes and larvae atresidential properties in east London.
Theinitialfinding was reported through UKHSA's Mosquito Watch surveillance scheme and is the first time thatAedes aegyptihas beenidentifiedbreeding in the UK.It is thefourth timethis specieshasbeen detected in the UK in recent years.
Control measures have been implemented to destroy thelarvaeand the area will continue to bemonitoredclosely toidentifyand eradicate any further mosquitoes and larvae.
UKHSA operates a range of programmes tomonitormosquitoes and other vectors, providing early warning of new or invasive species and supporting rapid public health action whererequired.
Dr Jolyon Medlock, Head of Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology at UKHSA, said:
While Aedes aegypti cantransmitdiseases such as dengue,chikungunyaand Zika virus in countries where these infections are circulating, the risk to the public from this finding is assessed asvery low.There is no evidence that these mosquitoes have caused human infections and importantly, to date, there is no evidence of the mosquitoes or larvae being detected in nearby public areas.
We believe these mosquitoes are accidental importations.Invasive mosquitoes can hitchhike invehicles,baggageandimportedplants, and if they find a suitable climate, can survive.Despite evidence of breeding in this local area and the recent heatwaves, the species is notestablishedin the UK and cannot survive long-term in the typical UK climate, which is too cold overall.However, it is expected that in a warming climate, we will continue to see incursions of invasive mosquitoes, and increased reports of them being able to survive in the UK.
As a precaution, residents can help reduce opportunities for all species of mosquitoes to breed by removing standing water from gardens and outdoor spaces, including water that collects in buckets, containers, paddling pools and plant pots.Members of the public can support mosquitodetectionthrough UKHSA's Mosquito Watch scheme andsubmitphotographs or specimens where possible.We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
