The spread of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) across Europe is accelerating. Climate change has extended breeding seasons and softened winters, allowing this invasive species to survive and reproduce in regions that were previously unsuitable.
Since 2013, the tiger mosquito has expanded from 8 European countries to at least 13 by 2024, reaching as far north as southern Sweden. As populations become established, outbreaks of Dengue, Zika, West Nile fever, and Chikungunya are no longer isolated events but an emerging and persistent public health threat. Each year of delayed action strengthens the mosquito’s foothold, making future control more difficult, more expensive, and less effective.
Once established, the Asian tiger mosquito exploits urban infrastructure to sustain and expand its populations. Storm drains and underground water systems provide ideal, hidden breeding sites: stagnant water, stable temperatures, and protection from weather and predators.
These concealed environments allow mosquito populations to grow out of sight, directly beneath cities, increasing the risk of local disease transmission in residential areas, schools, and public spaces. By breeding within urban infrastructure, the tiger mosquito becomes exceptionally difficult to control using traditional, reactive methods.