The Asian tiger mosquito, a species originally from the tropics, has established a population in Berlin.
It is the northernmost confirmed spot in Germany so far.
The city’s authorities are warning that the insects could multiply over the coming months.
Where the mosquitoes have been found
Populations have been detected in Bonn, Euskirchen, and the Rhein-Erft district in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Cologne recently issued a public alert that the tropical mosquitoes could spread further.
Berlin marks the northern edge of their known range in the country.
The species thrives in warm, humid conditions.
Germany is currently seeing frequent rain mixed with sunny, warm weather.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, winters are getting milder, making the climate more favorable for the mosquitoes to survive year-round.
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Why they’re spreading
Climate change is a major driver.
Since the 1990s, the tiger mosquito has spread across southern and central Europe.
But it’s not just the weather.
Rising international travel and goods traffic help the insects hitch rides to new regions, according to the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM).
The mosquitoes are not subtle about their presence.
They show little fear of daylight, and their bites are painful.
They’re easy to recognize by their black-and-white stripes.
The mosquitoes measure between half a centimeter and one centimeter long.
What diseases they can carry
The real concern is that tiger mosquitoes can transmit dengue and chikungunya.
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Dengue starts four to ten days after a bite with high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and a rash.
Most patients recover in one to two weeks.
Some develop serious complications like bleeding, circulatory failure, or life-threatening severe dengue.
There is no specific antiviral treatment.
Care focuses on symptom relief and fluids.
Chikungunya causes sudden high fever, intense joint and muscle pain, headaches, and rashes.
Joint pain can persist for weeks or months after the acute phase.
The disease can severely affect people for a long time.
No antiviral treatment exists; rest and fluids are the mainstays.
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No known cases of transmission of these viruses by local tiger mosquitoes have occurred in Germany.
Experts believe it’s only a matter of time, given climate change, according to the report.
How to protect yourself
The most effective prevention is replacing standing water.
Stop water from pooling in watering cans, buckets, plant saucers, and anything else.
That denies the mosquitoes a place to breed.
People can catch mosquitoes and send them to the Mosquito Atlas, a nationwide project where scientists identify species and track their spread.
It’s a practical way to contribute data.
The mosquitoes are here.
Whether they become a serious health problem depends on how quickly the climate shifts and how consistently people remove standing water.