Further specimens of the Asian tiger mosquito have been detected in Berlin. (archive photo)
© dpa
Tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) have been detected in a cemetery in Berlin-Pankow. Both adult mosquitoes and larvae of the mosquito species introduced from Asia, which can transmit diseases, were found there. This was announced by the Senate Department for Health.
The presence of tiger mosquitoes has been confirmed several times in allotment gardens in Treptow-Köpenick and Neukölln in recent years. There is also a suspected case in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.
Tiger mosquitoes have black and white stripes, are active during the day and are keen to bite. They can transmit pathogens such as the dengue, chikungunya or Zika virus. So far, there has been no evidence of tiger mosquitoes transmitting these pathogens to humans in Germany. Tiger mosquitoes breed in small artificial pools of water such as watering cans, flower pot saucers or vases in cemeteries. It is therefore advisable to replace stagnant water in such containers on a weekly basis and to pour the stagnant water onto green areas and flower beds.
It cannot be ruled out that tiger mosquitoes can also be found in other places in Berlin. If anyone discovers a specimen that could be a tiger mosquito, the Mitte district office would ask you to get in touch. It is possible to send photos of mosquito specimens by e-mail to vektormonitoring@ba-mitte.berlin.de or to send the mosquito specimen in a small container such as a matchbox to the health department in Mitte. The address is: Vektormonitoring, Turmstraße 21, Haus B, 10559 Berlin. The district office in Mitte is responsible for tiger mosquito monitoring in the state of Berlin and advises the districts in the event of a tiger mosquito outbreak.