Tiger Mosquito Threat

The Asian tiger mosquito has already been found at seven different places in the Netherlands. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is fighting the insect, that can transmit dangerous diseases, in Oss, Weert, Montfoort, Almere, Lelystad, Emmeloord and Hardenberg. The tiger mosquito was found in these places, near or at companies that import used tires. The fight is a precaution to prevent the mosquitoes from settling in the Netherlands. The tiger mosquito can transmit dangerous diseases like dengue. Dengue, also called breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus to which the tiger mosquito is a host. When sucking blood the parasite can come into the blood of the victim. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In some cases the disease develops into a life-threatening situation. The mosquito is native to Southeast Asia but is now also living in southern Europe. The mosquito is found near and at companies which import used tires, because water inside the tire, for instance after rain, is the perfect spot for the mosquito to lay its eggs. In Southeast Asia people are told not to keep old tires laying around their homes as a prevention against the disease.