The tiger mosquito is increasing in prevalence across Belgium, having already been spotted in three separate locations in May and June – which is earlier than last year.
The Nature and Forestry Agency is responsible for handling this outbreak and has implemented measures. More than 600 sightings have been reported through MuggenSurveillance.be, a platform that allows citizens to upload images if they believe they’ve spotted a tiger mosquito.
Analysis by the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITG) and health service Sciensano revealed three confirmed instances of a tiger mosquito.
"Last year, the first tiger mosquito was spotted in mid-July. The insects can travel with returning holidaymakers, so the ascendance continues," explained Marie Hermy, a researcher at Sciensano.
Of the three confirmed sightings this year, two were in completely new locations: one in the Brussels municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode and the other in Verviers, Liège. Leuven also had a sighting, repeating last year’s occurrence. In 2023, a total of 18 locations reported positive findings via the reporting centre.
Upon positive discovery, ITG representatives visit the site and search for mosquitoes within a 100-metre radius. In Flanders, the Nature and Forestry Agency takes responsibility for eradication, working with external partner Rentokil. Tiger mosquitoes breed in small, stagnant pools of water, like those in flower pots or car tyres, but not in natural standing water such as ponds.
Tiger mosquitoes are known to transmit viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. To date, there have been no known cases of virus transmission via mosquito bite within Belgium. However, a significant dengue epidemic is currently affecting South America, which according to Sciensano, has resulted in an increased number of Belgians returning home unwell from holiday compared to last year.
