The tiger mosquito has a flight range of less than 200 metres. Experts blame the worldwide transport of used tyres for its spread.
Keystone
Asian tiger mosquitoes, which can carry harmful diseases like the Zika virus, have reached the Swiss city of Zurich. Insects, larvae and eggs were found in the Wollishofen area.
Tiger mosquito eggs had already been discovered three years ago near Zurich station in buses coming from abroad. The specimens found in the Wollishofen district survived the winter, the city authorities said on Tuesday.
Control measures have been put in place. The residents of the neighbourhood were invited to an information session. There is currently no reason to be concerned about the presence of this insect, the authorities said.
Tiger mosquitoes can potentially transmit diseases such as dengue fever or Chikungunya.
The Zurich city authorities are asking for residents’ help in the fight against this insect. Anyone who spots a tiger mosquito is encouraged to either capture or photograph it for submission to the Environmental and Health Protection Department.
In Switzerland, tiger mosquitoes have already been spotted in Graubünden in the east, Ticino in the south and Basel in the north. In Europe, they have had a strong presence in Italy since the early 1990s. They have also been found in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The tiger mosquito, which originated in Southeast Asia, has a flight range of less than 200 metres and experts believe the worldwide transport of used tyres, probably from China, is to blame for its spread.
More
More
Ticino sounds the alarm over mosquito menace
This content was published on
A working group is now trying to find ways to eradicate the Asian Tiger mosquito, which can carry diseases including rheumatic and dengue fever. “We found it in the village of Coldrério just across the border from Italy,” Peter Lüthy, head of a canton Ticino mosquito control group, told swissinfo. The small insect with a…
This content was published on
The cantonal parliament of Vaud has approved a loan of CHF9.5 million ($11.5 million) for Château de Chillon, the most-visited monument in Switzerland.
Swiss party president Thierry Burkart to step down in October
This content was published on
Thierry Burkart, president of the centre-right Radical-Liberal Party, wants to hand over the presidency in October, around two years before the next national elections.
Climate Alliance presents action plan on 20th anniversary
This content was published on
The Swiss Climate Alliance has presented an action plan showing how Switzerland could make a success of the energy transition and achieve a net zero balance within ten years.
Swiss business group expects export slump after strong start to year
This content was published on
The Swiss economy was still robust in the first quarter of 2025 but is coming under increasing pressure, says the Swiss business federation, economiesuisse.
Five arrested in Switzerland in human-trafficking raid
This content was published on
Law enforcement authorities in Switzerland and Romania have busted a human trafficking ring. They arrested a total of 17 suspects.
OECD significantly lowers Swiss GDP forecast due to Trump
This content was published on
The Swiss economy is likely to grow more slowly in 2025 and 2026 than previously assumed, according to the OECD economic organisation.
UBS economists more confident about Swiss economy in 2025
This content was published on
UBS economists have revised upwards their estimates of Swiss GDP growth for the current year. However, they are more pessimistic for next year, due to the spectre of US tariffs.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss patrol borders to ward off mosquito menace
This content was published on
The Tiger mosquito which originates in south-east Asia, established itself in Italy in the 1990s. So called because of the white stripes on its legs and thorax, the mosquito is an aggressive biter and very efficient bearer of disease. Ever since the insect was sported north of Milan, alarm bells have been ringing in Switzerland’s…
This content was published on
Authorities said it was too soon to say whether they were dealing with an isolated mosquito that had been carried into the canton or one from a local population. But the Federal Health Office added that there were no indications that the tiger mosquitoes found in canton Aargau were transmitters of infections such as dengue…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.