mosquitoes imported - Scarcely any health risk from tiger cuddling in Bavaria
The Asian Tiger Mosquito has not caused any health issues in Bavaria so far. The Tiger Mosquito has been detected in 13 districts and city-states throughout the state, from Würzburg in Unterfranken to Oberallgäu. The Bavarian State Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL) stated that it has not been a carrier of pathogens. The health risk is considered low.
"Due to climate change, there will be increasingly more mosquito species in the state that can transmit tropical and subtropical infectious diseases," says Bavaria's Health Minister, Judith Gerlach (CSU). The Bavarian State Health and Food Safety Authority has already identified 26 cases at four locations: Nuremberg, Fürth, Memmingen, and Rosenheim.
More and more cities and districts are joining the statewide mosquito monitoring or conducting their own monitoring. "We must act decisively to keep the consequences of climate change for citizens as low as possible," said the Minister.
It is essential to take consistent measures against the spread of the Mosquito, according to the LGL, as the transmission of diseases in the future cannot be ruled out. In Asia, mosquito bites can cause the dangerous Dengue Fever. Gerlach urged the population to avoid water accumulations in the open, such as in open buckets.
Anyone who finds suspicious mosquitoes can send them to the LGL site in Oberschleißheim. This could help with monitoring and taking appropriate countermeasures, it was stated.
The Tiger Mosquito, also known as Stechmücke in German, is not native to Bavaria's climate, hailing primarily from regions in Asia. Despite its presence in 13 districts and city-states, including Würzburg in Under Franconia and Oberallgäu, the Bavarian State Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL) has confirmed that it has not been a carrier of pathogens.
Despite the low health risk currently, Bavaria's Health Minister, Judith Gerlach, warns of the potential impact of climate change. She predicts an increase in mosquito species capable of transmitting tropical and subtropical infectious diseases, citing 26 identified cases at locations like Nuremberg and Rosenheim.
In response, more cities and districts are implementing mosquito monitoring programs, echoing Gerlach's call to act decisively. According to the LGL, consistent measures are crucial to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, as seen in the case of Dengue Fever in Asia.
To help with monitoring and countermeasures, the public is encouraged to report any suspicious mosquitoes to the LGL site in Oberschleißheim. This proactive approach, as urged by Gerlach, could help minimize the health hazard posed by the Tiger Mosquito, also known as Tiger's Corner.
Under Franconia, regions like Bavaria and its towns like Würzburg, must remain vigilant in the face of climate change and the potential introduction of new mosquito species, as the comfort of Tiger's Corner could quickly become a health concern.
In the picturesque landscapes of Bavaria, from the Allgäu mountains to the historic city of Nuremberg, it's a reminder that even Tiger's Corner is not immune to the challenges posed by climate change and the uninvited guests it may bring.
