Tiger mosquitoes are spreading across Europe, bringing record levels of mosquito-borne disease — and Belgium shows how quickly the trend can strain public health.
Belgium’s national health institute Sciensano confirmed the growing presence of the tiger mosquito across multiple municipalities this year, highlighting recent discoveries in seven different places on August 25.
The species, originally from Asia, has adapted to European climates and is now appearing further north than ever before.
Health authorities across the bloc have reported record levels of mosquito-borne infections this summer. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has documented unprecedented numbers of locally acquired chikungunya and West Nile virus in multiple member states, including Italy, France, and Greece. Its surveillance data shows that the tiger mosquito is steadily expanding northward across Europe, increasing the risk of local virus circulation.
The tiger mosquito, native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, has become one of the most invasive mosquito species worldwide. According to the French agency for food, health & safety ANSES, it was first detected in Europe in the late 1970s and has spread primarily through international trade, including used tyres and plants that can carry eggs. The species thrives in small collections of water — from flower pots to gutters — and adapts well to urban and suburban areas. Its ability to survive cooler European winters has allowed it to expand steadily northward.
“This is no longer an isolated phenomenon,” Sciensano wrote in its report. “We are seeing the tiger mosquito spreading steadily across Belgium, which raises the risk of local transmission.”
Once the mosquito is established, eradication is nearly impossible, Sciensano warned. “The priority is to slow its spread and reduce breeding sites.”
The ripple effects are visible beyond disease surveillance.
On August 20, the Belgian Red Cross reported that blood reserves had fallen to critical levels, in part because of precautions linked to mosquito-borne viruses.
People returning from countries where tiger mosquitoes spread dengue, chikungunya, or West Nile virus must wait 28 days before giving blood. The rule, intended to protect patients, has sharply reduced available stocks during a peak season for hospital demand.
“Many donors have been turned away this summer because of the risk of mosquito-borne infections,” the Red Cross said in a press release. “This is having a direct impact on blood availability for hospitals.”
Officials highlighted shortages of the most sought-after types, including O-negative, and called for urgent donations.
