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A non-native mosquito species that’s reportedly to blame for a spike in dengue fever across Europe has been spotted in 13 countries across the continent.
Asian tiger mosquitoes are known carriers of tropical viruses, including dengue, chikungunya, West Nile and zika, all of which can make you feel “pretty awful”, according to Dr Christian Jessen.
He said dengue, chikungunya and West Nile may not give you “any symptoms”, but they could also result in a range of health issues, including high fevers, joint pains, headaches, tiredness, nausea, and diarrhoea.
Dr Jessen, who is known for the TV show Embarrassing Bodies, said these illnesses won’t kill you, but they could “make you very ill indeed” if you have underlying health issues. However, there are seven more serious symptoms to watch out for.
He told Closer magazine: “Often, symptoms start four to 10 days after being bitten, so you might be long home and not put two and two together.”
He continued: “Your GP also won’t have dengue fever at the top of their list of diagnoses because it isn’t that common – and especially if you only went on holiday to Europe, as it’s way more common in places like South America.
“You’ll usually get better without any medical help, but in rare cases, a day or two later, you may get more serious symptoms like severe tummy pain, being sick repeatedly, fast breathing, bleeding gums or nose, extreme tiredness, restlessness and blood in your vomit or poo.”
Dr Jessen, who also noted that the mosquito has been found as close to home as Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portgual and Spain, said this is when you “need to call 999”.
He also pointed out that West Nile can lead to “inflammation of the brain or meningitis”, and zika, which hit headlines about seven years ago, is known to cause “horrible birth defects” in unborn children.
It occurs when a pregnant woman (or a woman who is planning to get pregnant within the next threee months) is bitten and infected.
Dr Jessen said there “doesn’t seem to be transmission” in Europe at present, but it cannot be ruled out, as tiger mosquitoes are currently on the continent.
It’s also worth noting that zika can remain in semen for three months and the female gential tract for two months, meaning it can also be sexually transmitted.
The tiger mosquito has been known to bite people in the daytime, which isn’t typical for mosquitoes. To protect yourself while on holiday, you should use DEET, as it’s the “only repellant that actually works”, according to the doctor.
However, you could opt for some others, including ones that contain Picardin or IR3535, but these will have to be reapplied more often, making them “riskier”.
Dr Jessen also recommended diluting DEET repellents in water to “soak your clothes”, so they’re “impregnated with it”, offering an “extra line of defence”, and always travel cautiously, opting for tablets or vaccines where appropriate.
If you get bitten, it’s worth taking an antihistamine or applying a “fairly strong” steroid cream. The doctor also reminded the public that mosquitoes that carry malaria have been found in Europe.
He said it’s always worth checking if there’s a risk of malaria before you travel, and malaria tablets, although they “don’t 100 per cent guarantee” that you won’t become infected, can reduce the severity of the illness.
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