We're hearing more and more reports about the tiger mosquito, which has spread across Switzerland in recent years. It can pass on a number of diseases to humans including dengue fever, a viral infection. This health tip explains what dengue fever is and what can be done to halt the spread of the tiger mosquito.
Stories about the tiger mosquito can be quite frightening. Originally native to Asia, it was spotted for the first time in Switzerland in 2003 and has spread rapidly since then. Unlike domestic mosquito species, it is primarily active during the day and can pass on a number of diseases with its painful bite. One of these is dengue fever.
Transmission and symptoms
It generally takes four to seven days for any symptoms to develop after being bitten by a tiger mosquito that is carrying the dengue fever virus. In many cases the victim shows no signs of illness at all – it is asymptomatic. In 20 to 60% of cases, however, they will experience symptoms such as high fever, headache and aching limbs or a rash. Some people may get a more severe type of dengue with bleeding, liver damage and, in the worst cases, circulatory failure – but this is rare. There isn't yet any specific treatment for dengue fever. Patients are treated with pain relief and fever-reducing medication.
No cases of transmission in Switzerland
The good news is that no one has yet caught dengue fever within Switzerland. All known cases of the disease have occurred in travellers who have been bitten abroad, become infected and returned to Switzerland with the fever. The bad news is that because both the number of infected travellers and the prevalence of tiger mosquitoes is growing, the risk of transmission in Switzerland is also increasing. If a tiger mosquito bites an infected person, it can pass the virus contained in their blood to the next person, thereby spreading dengue fever.
How can we stop the spread of the tiger mosquito?
The tiger mosquito lays its eggs in places where water collects, such as water butts or plant pot saucers. So it's important to avoid standing water in our gardens or on balconies, to prevent the mosquito from breeding. Water that has a moving surface, such as s swimming pool, is fine. Various measures are being taken to try and halt the spread of the tiger mosquito in Switzerland. Anyone who spots a tiger mosquito should report it here.
