Two species of disease-carrying mosquitoes found in the UK could pose a “significant public health risk”, scientists have warned. The flying insects, known as Egyptian mosquitoes and Asian tiger or forest mosquitoes, were discovered in a freight storage warehouse near London Heathrow Airport and at a motorway service station near Kent, respectively. A new study by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has found that the presence of the two species, which have historically been contained to tropical and subtropical regions, could pose a public health threat.
Egyptian and tiger mosquitoes are known to carry diseases including yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, dirofilariasis and dengue. The insects were collected from the two spots where they appeared in September 2023 and August 2024 for scientific monitoring, leading the UKHSA to conclude that sightings will likely become more frequent in the UK as the planet continues to heat up.
In a peer-reviewed study on invasive mosquito surveillance in the UK, researchers warned that “without timely action” the country could become a common breeding ground for “invasive mosquito populations”, particularly highlighting congested urban areas like London.
“As urban areas become more climatically favourite for [these] species…the risk of arboviral diseases like dengue, Zika and chikungunya increases,” the study’s authors wrote.
In the piece, published in the PLOS Global Public Health, they warned that the diease-carrying creatures could move further into southern England from mainland Europe as temperatures rise and winters become warmer, risking a rise in occurrences of associated illnesses.
Mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, zika and chikungunya, can cause severe complications and chronic suffering in some cases.
The UKHSA has previously warned of climate change’s impact on the UK’s vector-borne disease landscape, as it creates “increasingly favourable conditions for disease-carrying organisms”.
“Without decisive action, these changes could substantially impact public health, increasing disease burden and straining healthcare systems,” the agency warned.
It comes after the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned of an increase in dengue-related cases in countries including Italy and France in September. The agency said over four million cases of dengue and over 2,500 dengue-related deaths had been reported since the beginning of the year across 101 global territories, with data showing an accelerated spread in western Europe.
“Our comprehensive surveillance systems give us early warning of potential threats,” the UKHSA said.
They added: “By collaborating with local authorities, healthcare professionals and the public, we’re strengthening our ability to detect and respond to vector-borne diseases before they become established in the UK.”
