Invasive Mosquitoes Are Making Headlines - But What’s the Truth?

Over the past week, headlines have warned of “disease-carrying mosquitoes” being found in the UK. While it’s true that two species of concern have been detected, it’s important we put this into context rather than fuel unnecessary panic.

The Mosquito Species in Question

The two mosquitoes 'recently' found are:

• Aedes aegypti (Egyptian mosquito) - a known vector for diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and dirofilariasis.

• Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito, also called the forest mosquito) - carries a similar risk profile and has spread widely across southern and central Europe in recent decades.

Both species are invasive and have historically been limited to warmer, tropical or subtropical climates. However, the tiger mosquito has shown it can adapt to temperate regions, which is why scientists are monitoring it closely.

What Has Actually Happened?

• September 2023 - Egyptian mosquito eggs were detected in a freight storage facility near Heathrow Airport.

• August 2024 - Asian tiger mosquitoes were detected at a motorway service station in Kent.

Both findings came from traps set by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as part of ongoing mosquito surveillance. These were isolated detections, not evidence of widespread populations in the UK.

The Bigger Picture

It’s easy to jump to scary conclusions when we see “disease-carrying mosquitoes” and “UK” in the same sentence, but here are the facts:

• No local outbreaks of diseases like dengue, Zika, or yellow fever have been reported in the UK.

• The detections so far are limited and contained. Surveillance is in place specifically to stop these species from establishing themselves.

• While climate change is making the UK more suitable for invasive species, it does not mean we are suddenly at risk of tropical disease epidemics.

Why This Matters

From a preparedness perspective, it’s worth paying attention. If the Asian tiger mosquito establishes a foothold in southern England, as it has in France, Italy, and Germany - we may start to see sporadic cases of imported diseases spreading locally. But right now, the risk is very low.

The real story here is about monitoring and prevention. The UKHSA is actively looking for invasive mosquitoes, and the fact these detections made the news is proof that the system is working.

What You Can Do

As with many things, a calm and practical approach is best:

• Stay informed - follow UKHSA updates rather than relying on alarmist headlines.

• Reduce standing water - even in your own garden, small containers of stagnant water can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes in summer.

• Travel awareness - if you’re travelling abroad, especially to regions where dengue or Zika are active, take normal precautions (repellent, nets, covering up).

Final Thoughts

Mosquitoes making their way into the UK is not new, nor is it surprising. Globalisation and warming climates make these detections more likely. But panic isn’t the answer, awareness and steady monitoring are.

At UKSN, we’ll continue to track developments like this and share updates rooted in fact, not fear.