The annoying "tiger" mosquito spreads in Algeria

The tiger mosquito, also called "Aedes albicans", has reappeared in abundance in the northwestern regions of Algeria, recording the highest prevalence since its first appearance in 2010, coming from tropical forests in Southeast Asia and Europe.

The Ministry of Health and Hospital Reform has issued an appeal to the citizens to exercise caution and take precautions to prevent the further spread of this type of mosquito.

The head of the Algerian Doctors Deanship, Boukat Berkani, confirmed that the type spread in Algeria is different from the African type that transmits dangerous viruses that cause diseases, such as dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika.

And the website "Sky News Arabia" quoted Berkani as saying: "The situation in Algeria is not alarming, but rather disturbing to citizens, especially since the mosquito that is currently spreading is not sick with dangerous viruses."

The Algerian doctor believes that "the process of eliminating the annoying tiger mosquito is a joint responsibility between citizens and local authorities, by intensifying operations to eliminate stagnant water in which this type of summer mosquito breeds."

Berkani added: "It is not only possible to rely on campaigns to disinfect neighborhoods with pesticides to eliminate mosquitoes, but every citizen must cleanse the surroundings of his home from the fossilized water that is found in the vicinity of home gardens."

For its part, the Algerian Ministry of Health confirmed that the presence of this mosquito in abundance does not mean that the diseases that it can carry will automatically appear, and stressed that dengue, chikungunya and Zick do not exist in Algeria at all.

And she explained in a statement issued to her regarding the spread of tiger mosquitoes: "There is, at this stage, no objective reason to talk about a state of alert."

Dr. Said Chaouki Boubeidi, an entomologist at the Pasteur Institute in Algeria, confirms that the tiger mosquito spread in the city of Oran and moved to several neighboring cities, especially the north.

"The mosquito is black in color and its size is small, ranging between 2 to 8 millimeters, and it is called by this name because it bears white dots on its back, and it can lay between 100 to 300 eggs at each blood meal," Bobidi said.

The tiger mosquito lives in stagnant waters and prefers urban and semi-urban environments, and this insect bites during the day, especially at dawn and dusk and most often outside homes.

Health experts confirm that exposure to a tiger mosquito does not require going to the hospital, despite the amount of redness it leaves on the affected area and the feeling of itching.

This insect is very aggressive towards humans, and it is active between the months of May and November. It can also transmit viruses and has gradually entered the five continents over the past thirty years.

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