East London said to be the breeding spot for invasive mosquito species

Zika virus carrying mosquitoes found breeding in London for first time

The species, Aedes aegypti, has been detected on the island four times already, but have been found breeding on UK soil for the very first time. 

The mosquitoes can normally be found in tropical and subtropical regions, where humidity and heat are a key hotspot for the insect. 

Aedes aegypti is said to carry, and transmit, dengue, chikungunya and the Zika virus.

Although not harmful when contracting Zika, it can cause lots of health issues when infecting women during and after pregnancy.

However, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have stated that the public risk is low at this moment, with no infections found in London thus far.

Despite the species being found breeding in the UK, authorities said the mosquitoes have not established themselves in the city, and are expected to not survive for much longer as temperatures will drop.

“We will continue to see incursions of invasive mosquitoes, and increased reports of them being able to survive in the UK,” said the UKHSA when discussing the long term effects of climate warming. 

The advocacy and social change manager for the Buglife charity, David Smith, also warns of increasing temperatures being favourable to tropical and disease carrying creatures.

Chikungunya is reported to be transmitted in most of Europe due to the increasing temperatures. 

The disease is also said to be excruciating. 

Nevertheless, the UKHSA has implemented control measures to destroy larvae and would continue to monitor the breeding spots.

East Londoners have been advised to remove all forms of still bodies of water, such as paddling pools, buckets, containers, plant pots, and so forth. 

Doing so will reduce the opportunity for mosquitoes to keep breeding, as reported by The Guardian.