Invasive mosquito of Japanese origin from East Asia, which is able to transmit various diseases, including West Nenile fever or dengue fever, occurs in Slovakia. It was first recorded in 2020 during extensive monitoring in Bratislava, Zvolen, Prešov and Košice. In addition, it is repeatedly reported by residents from other sites. This was stated for TASR by Viktória Čabanová from the Institute of Virology of the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS).
- Japanese mosquito transmits various diseases in Slovakia.
- For the first time recorded in 2020 in cities.
- It comes here through transport and travel.
- It poses a risk of transmission of pathogens as a West Nenile virus.
- Prevention involves maintenance of containers with water against multiplication.
“This originally Asian species gets to Europe and Slovakia mainly through transport, for example in water captured in used tires or passive transmission when females fly into a car or luggage,” said Čabanová.
Japanese mosquito is known as a potential virus carrier that is not yet in Slovakiafor example, Japanese encephalitis virus, chikungunya, dengue or Zika, said Čabanová. According to her, in the Slovak Republic, he poses a risk, especially in connection with the transmission of already present pathogens, especially the West Nenile virus, which occurs mainly in the south of the country. “However, it should be emphasized that a Japanese mosquito is not such an effective carrier of these viruses as a more famous Asian tiger mosquito,” She said the scientist.
At the same time recommends that The best prevention against the multiplication of invasive mosquitoes is regular care of all containers in which water can accumulate, such as buckets, barrels, gutters, flower pots or garden fountains. It is advisable to replace the water at least once a week or cover the containers so that the females can not lay eggs in them, Čabanová added.
The Czech State Health Institute informed in August that the Japanese invasive mosquito has settled in the Czech Republic. According to experts, people in the Czech Republic do not pose an immediate risk for people in the Czech Republic, but it may change. It first occurred in the Czech Republic in 2021. Last year, this year, researchers have already recorded it in the middle of 60 situated sites across the country. According to them, it was introduced several times independently of each other from various source areas.
