Ressources
Species dossiers, surveillance primers, and reference material on mosquito-borne disease in Europe. Drawn from ECDC, SpF, ISS, peer-reviewed open-access work, and our own surveillance feeds.
climate
- 21 Oct 2026
Flooding and Mosquito Risk in European Cities
Urban flooding can create standing water that helps mosquitoes breed. This article explains who is at risk in European cities and how to reduce exposure.
- 20 Oct 2026
Heatwaves and urban mosquito breeding: a linked public health risk
Hot spells and urban mosquito breeding often peak together. This article explains how heat affects the body and how household water containers help Aedes mosquitoes breed in cities, with practical steps for protecting yourself and vulnerable relatives.
- 07 Oct 2026
How warming extends the mosquito season in Europe
Warmer European summers are widening the active window for invasive mosquitoes. Temperature thresholds, diapause and transmission risk explain why the season is stretching.
- 15 Aug 2026
How Drought Can Increase Yellow Fever Risk Without Extra Rain
Dry weather can push mosquitoes and monkeys into cities, raising the chance of yellow fever outbreaks. Research from Brazil explains how, and public health records show why vaccination remains the strongest safeguard.
- 15 Apr 2026
The northward march of Aedes albopictus: what the climate models projected, and where the mosquito is now
Caminade et al. 2012 found that climate conditions had already become suitable for Aedes albopictus over central north-western Europe. ECDC's April 2026 map records 384 established units in 16 EU/EEA countries. Mordecai et al. 2017 put the Aedes albopictus dengue transmission optimum at 26.4°C.
diseases
- 21 Oct 2026
Malaria: How It Spreads and How to Protect Yourself
Malaria is a preventable, curable infection spread by certain mosquitoes. Learn how it spreads, who is at risk, and the practical steps that lower risk.
- 13 Oct 2026
Sindbis virus in the Nordic countries: Pogosta and Ockelbo disease
Pogosta disease in Finland and Ockelbo disease in Sweden are the same mosquito-borne viral illness. This article explains who is at risk, when cases peak, and how to prevent bites.
- 14 Oct 2026
West Nile Virus in Europe 2026: What ECDC Figures Show
ECDC counted 124 affected areas and 877 locally acquired West Nile virus cases across 15 European countries in 2026. Here is what those figures mean.
- 18 Oct 2026
Malaria in Greece and the EU: imported cases and vector risk
Malaria is not established in Greece or most of the EU, but imported cases and invasive mosquitoes keep the risk live. Here is what the evidence shows and how to protect yourself.
- 17 Oct 2026
Malaria: what it is, how it spreads and how to reduce your risk
Malaria is a preventable and curable disease spread by some mosquito bites. Learn the symptoms, how it spreads and the practical steps that cut your risk.
- 14 Oct 2026
West Nile virus lineages in Europe: why the name of a lineage does not replace local surveillance
A lineage name cannot predict a local outbreak. Laboratory competence data and European surveillance records show why mosquito, bird and human signals must be read together.
- 13 Oct 2026
Rift Valley fever: a mosquito-borne disease of livestock and people
Rift Valley fever spreads mainly from infected animals to people, with mosquitoes also playing a role. Here is how it presents, where outbreaks occur, and how to reduce risk.
- 12 Oct 2026
Zika virus and pregnancy: risk, testing and travel advice
What public health agencies say about Zika virus in pregnancy, how testing works, and which travel and prevention steps protect parents and babies.
- 06 Oct 2026
Why early dengue case counts change: a guide to reporting delays and provisional outbreak data
Early dengue totals are provisional observations. Reporting delays, outbreak size and method all shape the numbers, so read every count with its period, place and definition attached.
- 05 Oct 2026
Chikungunya joint pain: how long it lasts and what helps
Chikungunya joint pain often eases within days, yet many people feel it for weeks or months. Learn what the evidence says about duration and relief.
- 21 Sept 2026
A second dengue infection: why it can be more severe and what the critical phase looks like
A first dengue infection usually passes without drama. A second one can behave differently. Here is what the evidence says about the mechanism, the warning signs, and the phase that matters most.
- 11 Sept 2026
Usutu virus in Europe: what a blackbird disease means for people
Usutu virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that kills blackbirds and other songbirds across Europe. Human risk is low, but the virus is watched in the same programmes that track West Nile virus.
- 10 Sept 2026
Imported Dengue in Europe: How Travellers Turned a Tropical Infection into a Local Concern
Dengue cases in European travellers reached a record high in 2024. Learn what the numbers show, how imported cases relate to local outbreaks, and how to reduce your risk before travelling.
- 11 Sept 2026
WHO malaria-free certification: what it takes and which countries have reached it
A malaria-free certificate is not a guess. It rests on three years without local transmission, plus surveillance that keeps the disease from returning.
- 04 Sept 2026
Oropouche virus: imported cases in Europe and what is known
Oropouche virus disease has reached Europe through travellers. Learn about symptoms, transmission, and risks from official public health sources.
- 04 Sept 2026
Locally acquired dengue and chikungunya in France: what this season's surveillance shows
France reports more locally acquired dengue and chikungunya cases this season, with outbreaks in several regions. Here is what the latest surveillance data shows.
- 18 Jun 2026
ECDC confirms Italy's first two West Nile virus cases of 2026, in Caserta and Firenze
ECDC's Week 25 report covers Italy's first two locally acquired West Nile virus cases of 2026, one in Caserta and one in Firenze. They were the first locally acquired cases reported in Italy that season. Italy recorded 779 cases and 72 deaths in the 2025 season.
- 14 Jun 2026
Europe's 2026 mosquito season: West Nile virus in Berlin and an early case in Italy
West Nile virus is now circulating in Berlin's house mosquitoes. Italy recorded an early local case near Florence. In France, cities are releasing sterile male tiger mosquitoes in a suppression trial. Two weeks into June, here is where the 2026 season stands, and why a physical barrier reduces exposure more reliably than a spray alone.
markets
- 05 Aug 2026
Mosquitoes in the Netherlands: the tiger mosquito, West Nile virus, and the real risk in 2026
The Asian tiger mosquito keeps arriving in the Netherlands, but as of 2026 it has not settled here the way it has in Germany, Belgium or France. This is the plain-language guide to which mosquitoes bite in the Netherlands, what the tiger mosquito's repeated introductions actually mean, where West Nile virus already circulates quietly in native mosquitoes, and how a household protects itself without fear and without gadgets.
- 31 Jul 2026
Mosquitoes in Germany: the species, West Nile virus, and the real risk in 2026
Germany now has two mosquito stories running at once. A native mosquito already carries West Nile virus in the east of the country, Berlin included, and the invasive Asian tiger mosquito is pushing north and west, from the Rhineland to the capital. This is the plain-language guide to which mosquitoes bite in Germany, where and when, what the disease risk actually is in 2026, and how a household protects itself without fear and without gadgets.
- 24 Jul 2026
Mosquitoes in Spain: the species, the seasons, and the real disease risk (2026)
Yes, Spain has mosquitoes, and they are more than a summer nuisance. The common house mosquito bites across the country from spring to autumn, and the invasive Asian tiger mosquito is now established along most of the Mediterranean coast, the Balearics, and increasingly inland. This is the plain-language guide to which mosquitoes you meet in Spain, where and when they bite, the low but real disease risk, and how to protect a household without fear or gadgets.
prevention
- 24 Oct 2026
How to use a mosquito net correctly: hanging, tucking and checking for gaps
A practical guide to hanging a mosquito net so it fully encloses the sleeping area, tucking the edges, and checking for gaps that let biting insects in.
- 23 Oct 2026
Mosquito bite: what it looks like, why it itches and how to prevent it
A plain guide to mosquito bites: what the skin reaction looks like, why it itches, when to seek advice, and which barrier and repellent measures reduce bites.
- 23 Oct 2026
Biting midges: recognising bites, treating them and preventing them
Biting midges leave small, raised bites, often in groups. Learn how to recognise the bites, ease the itch safely and cut your exposure at home and outdoors.
- 22 Oct 2026
Mosquito net for a bed: choosing, hanging and caring for it
How to choose a bed net that suits your room, hang it so gaps stay closed, and care for it so protection lasts.
- 21 Oct 2026
Mosquito bite prevention for travellers to the Mediterranean
How to reduce mosquito bites on a Mediterranean trip, which species matter, and what to do if a bite becomes a problem, using official public health guidance.
- 20 Oct 2026
What helps against mosquitoes: physical barriers, nets and the case for screens
Screens, nets and simple household checks stop mosquitoes reaching people. This guide explains what the evidence supports, how to use each barrier correctly, and why repellent alone is not enough.
- 19 Oct 2026
Standing water around the home: a weekly check
A short weekly walk around your home can remove the water containers where mosquitoes breed. Here is a practical routine, with the evidence behind it.
- 13 Oct 2026
Spatial repellents: what the WHO recommendation on emanators actually says
The World Health Organization now recommends spatial emanators indoors alongside insecticide-treated nets. Here is what that guidance covers, what the trials showed, and what remains unproven.
- 18 Oct 2026
Natural mosquito repellents: what the evidence supports and what it does not
A calm, evidence-led look at natural mosquito repellents: what public health guidance actually covers, what it leaves open, and how physical barriers fit in.
- 17 Oct 2026
An infected mosquito bite: how to recognise it and when to seek care
Most mosquito bites settle within days, but an infected bite needs attention. Learn the warning signs, who is at higher risk, and when to see a pharmacist or doctor.
- 17 Oct 2026
Biting Midges (Kriebelmücken): How to Recognise the Bites and Prevent Them
What biting midges are, how their bites differ from mosquito bites, and the practical barrier, repellent and aftercare steps that reduce the risk.
- 09 Oct 2026
Permethrin-treated clothing: how it protects against bites and where it stops
Permethrin-treated clothing can reduce mosquito bites, but only where the fabric covers skin. This article explains the evidence, the limits and how to use treated clothing with a skin repellent.
- 09 Oct 2026
Mosquito repellents for babies, children and pregnancy: what health authorities say is safe
UK, US and WHO guidance on DEET, icaridin and other repellents for babies, children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, plus net and clothing protection.
- 07 Oct 2026
How long repellents really last: what the evidence says about DEET, picaridin and IR3535 concentrations
Concentration, sweat, mosquito pressure and how much you apply all change how long a repellent protects you. Here is what government guidance and field studies actually show.
- 06 Sept 2026
Fans and Moving Air as Bite Protection: What Studies Show About Mosquito Flight and Host Finding
Explore how fans and air movement can reduce mosquito bites. Learn what research says about wind's effect on mosquito behaviour and host finding.
- 05 Sept 2026
Insecticide-treated nets: how they work and why resistance matters
How insecticide-treated nets work, what pyrethroid resistance means for malaria control, and how dual-ingredient nets restore protection.
- 25 Aug 2026
The Weekly Water Check: How Emptying Containers Breaks the Aedes Breeding Cycle
A simple weekly routine of emptying standing water from containers can disrupt the Aedes mosquito life cycle and reduce dengue risk at home.
- 25 Aug 2026
Wolbachia After Release: Mosquito Infection and Disease Reduction Are Different Measures
Seeing Wolbachia persist in local mosquitoes does not automatically prove fewer human cases. Learn why infection frequency and disease reduction are separate questions.
- 11 Jul 2026
The Mosticare mosquito risk explainer: reading ECDC's four risk levels
ECDC now sorts areas at risk in Europe into four risk levels, with sub-levels, for locally-acquired dengue, chikungunya and Zika. The framework is written for public health authorities, but it maps cleanly onto a household question: how much protection do I actually need where I live right now? Here is the honest translation, level by level, with no fear and no gadget upsell.
- 05 Jul 2026
Why mosquito bites itch, how to stop the itch, and when a bite needs a doctor
A mosquito bite itches because your own immune system is reacting to proteins in the insect's saliva, not because of anything the mosquito left behind to hurt you. Here is what actually calms a bite, what the internet gets wrong, how long the itch really lasts, and the specific signs that mean it is time to see someone.
- 03 Jul 2026
Skeeter syndrome: when a mosquito bite swells up, why it happens, and when to worry
A mosquito bite that balloons into a hot, red swelling the size of a golf ball looks alarming, especially on a child. It usually is not dangerous. Here is what Skeeter syndrome is, how to tell it from an infection, how to calm it, and the red flags that do warrant a doctor.
- 03 Jul 2026
How to get rid of mosquitoes, indoors and out: what works, and what only looks like it does
Two things reliably reduce mosquitoes: removing the standing water they breed in, and putting a barrier between the insect and your skin. Repellents help on exposed skin. The coils, candles, zappers and ultrasonic apps in the protection aisle do far less than their packaging suggests.
- 27 Jun 2026
What Is Actually in a Mosquito Coil
A mosquito coil is a spiral of plant filler and binder dosed with a small amount of pyrethroid insecticide, and you set it alight indoors. The insecticide is not the real problem. The smoke is. Peer-reviewed testing found that burning one coil releases as much fine particulate as burning between 75 and 137 cigarettes, which is why the coil is the clearest actively harmful case in the whole aisle.
- 02 Jul 2026
Protection or Illusion: How to Tell a Mosquito Net That Works From One That Does Not
A mosquito net is either a barrier or a decoration. Four things you can check for yourself, mesh, durability, certification and correct use, separate the two. And there is one honest limit no net can cross.
- 02 Jul 2026
Plug-in vaporisers and the sealed bedroom
A plug-in mosquito diffuser releases a low dose of insecticide into the air you breathe all night, in a room you have deliberately closed. Convenience is the selling point. The part nobody has cleanly quantified is what repeated overnight exposure adds up to for the way people actually use these devices. Here is the honest picture, and the barrier alternative that goes nowhere near your lungs.
- 02 Jul 2026
Do Citronella Candles Actually Work?
The honest answer is a little, at arm's length, in still air. As real outdoor protection, no. Here is what the peer-reviewed evidence says about citronella, coils and repellents, and what actually keeps mosquitoes off you.
- 02 Jul 2026
DEET and Picaridin Work. They Are Still Not a Barrier.
Skin repellents are effective. The problem is that they are sold as complete protection when they are only a supplement, and that protection ends when you forget to reapply. Here is why a physical barrier belongs at the bed, the window and the door.
- 28 Apr 2026
Screen doors and windows: the simplest mosquito barrier that works
Fine-mesh screens at every opening cut indoor mosquito exposure dramatically. What to look for, where to install, and what gets missed.
products
- 23 Oct 2026
Mosquito nets for beds: canopy, box and pop-up nets compared
A plain guide to three common bed net designs. Learn how canopy, box and pop-up nets differ in coverage, airflow, setup and daily use, and when a net adds protection.
- 23 Oct 2026
Anti-mosquito lamps: what the evidence shows and what to use instead
Anti-mosquito lamps sound tidy and chemical-free. The public health evidence points elsewhere, so here is what official guidance says protects people, and how to choose it well.
- 21 Oct 2026
Mosquito nets for beds, cots and travel: choosing a physical barrier
How to choose and use a mosquito net as a physical barrier for beds, cots and travel, with practical checks on mesh, hanging, treated nets and daily habits.
- 20 Oct 2026
Mosquito traps in Europe: what they can and cannot do
Traps catch mosquitoes, but they are not a barrier. Here is what European and international public health guidance says about where traps fit in a household prevention plan.
- 19 Oct 2026
How to choose a mosquito net for a bed, cot and travel
A plain guide to choosing mosquito nets for beds, cots and travel, covering mesh, fit, insecticide treatment and the other measures that keep protection complete.
- 27 Jun 2026
Uncertified Marketplace Nets: What to Check Before You Buy
A generic net sold as a marketplace listing can look like protection and still fail on the details that matter. The mesh may be too coarse for the tiger mosquito, the listing may carry no certification and no durability rating, and a treatment claim may have nothing behind it. Ask for the mesh count, the standard, and the durability rating before you buy.
regulations
- 24 Oct 2026
How the EU Authorises and Regulates Insect Repellents
A plain guide to how insect repellents reach the EU market, which regulator does what, and how official public health advice treats repellents as one layer of protection.
- 20 Oct 2026
EU rules for biocidal mosquito products: what the law covers and what it does not
Biocidal mosquito products sold in the EU are regulated as chemicals, not as cosmetics or general goods. This guide explains what the rules cover, what evidence they demand, and how to read a label without fear.
- 17 Apr 2026
The EU BPR 2026 consultation on pyrethrum derivatives, and the case for indoor residential limits
The European Chemicals Agency is consulting on the proposed renewal conditions for pyrethrum-based active substances in product type 18 (insecticides, acaricides). This explainer sets out the case for making renewal conditional on mandatory residential-use restrictions, and the evidence behind it.
science
- 08 Oct 2026
Mosquito DNA in urban water: what environmental surveillance can find and what it can miss
Water sampling can reveal which mosquitoes live near people. It can also return a negative pathogen result that reflects test limits, not real absence.
- 14 Oct 2026
Sterile insect technique against the tiger mosquito: how it works and what European trials found
The sterile insect technique uses radiation to stop Aedes mosquitoes from reproducing. European field trials in Germany, Greece, Spain and France show how well it works, and where it still depends on community consent.
- 12 Oct 2026
Wolbachia mosquito releases: the trial evidence and where WHO has got to
Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes reduced dengue in a large Indonesian trial. The World Health Organization is still finalising its global recommendation, expected in late 2027.
- 07 Oct 2026
How Mosquitoes Find People: Carbon Dioxide, Heat and Skin Odour
Mosquitoes find people by combining carbon dioxide, body heat, infrared radiation and skin chemistry. Here is what peer-reviewed research shows about each cue.
species
- 19 Oct 2026
Aedes aegypti in Europe: current range and surveillance
A public health guide to the yellow fever mosquito in Europe: where it has returned, how surveillance tracks it, and how readers can reduce risk without alarm.
- 18 Oct 2026
Tiger mosquito map of Europe: where Aedes albopictus is established
Aedes albopictus has spread across much of southern and central Europe. This guide explains where it is established, how to read official maps, and how to check local risk.
- 04 Oct 2026
Where the tiger mosquito is now established in Europe, according to ECDC mosquito maps
ECDC maps show Aedes albopictus established in 384 EU/EEA regions by April 2026, up 14 units in a single year. Here is what that means for public health.
- 05 Oct 2026
Anopheles stephensi in Djibouti: what mosquito forms can and cannot tell us about urban malaria
Three physical forms of Anopheles stephensi live together in Djibouti City. Their labels do not tell us which mosquitoes drive urban malaria, so surveillance must count and test the insects themselves.
- 04 Oct 2026
Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus: the quieter invasive mosquitoes spreading across Europe
Two invasive mosquitoes, Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus, have spread across Europe since 2000. Learn where they live, how they bite, and what public health evidence shows.
- 04 Oct 2026
Aedes aegypti back on European soil: what is known from Cyprus and Madeira
Two islands show how Aedes aegypti returns to Europe, why surveillance at ports and airports matters, and what the evidence does and does not say.
- 04 Oct 2026
Anopheles mosquitoes in Europe and the risk of malaria returning
Malaria was eradicated across Europe, yet several Anopheles mosquitoes remain widespread. This article explains which species matter, why imported cases rarely spark local spread, and how climate change may shift the picture.
- 25 Aug 2026
Tiger Mosquitoes in Limassol: Spread and Season Length Over Two Years
Two years of monitoring in Limassol show the Asian tiger mosquito remains active beyond summer. Learn what the data reveal about spread and seasonal risk.
- 23 Jul 2026
Are there tiger mosquitoes in Croatia? Split, the Dalmatian coast, and what the bite really means
Yes. The Asian tiger mosquito has been established along the Croatian coast, Split included, for well over a decade. Here is what the ECDC and Croatian data actually say about where it lives, the short seasonal risk window, how to recognise it, and the cheap barrier-first steps that keep it off you.
- 03 Jul 2026
The Asian tiger mosquito: how to recognise it, what its bite really means, and how to keep it off you
A small black-and-white mosquito that bites in daylight, breeds in a bottle-cap of water and is now settled across much of Europe. Here is how to identify Aedes albopictus, what a tiger mosquito bite does and does not mean, and the four things that actually keep it off you.
vaccines
- 12 Oct 2026
Yellow fever vaccine: one dose for life, certificate rules and who should not receive it
Yellow fever is a serious mosquito-borne infection. One dose of vaccine protects most people for life, but not everyone should receive it. Here is what the evidence says about the single dose, travel certificates and who needs extra care.
- 09 Oct 2026
Qdenga, the dengue vaccine available in Europe: who it is for and what it does
Qdenga is a live dengue vaccine authorised in the EU and prequalified by WHO. Here is who it is for, how it is given, and what the evidence shows.
- 08 Oct 2026
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for Travel: Who Needs It and How the Virus Spreads
Japanese encephalitis is a rare but serious mosquito-borne infection. Learn who should consider vaccination before travel and how the virus spreads.
- 06 Oct 2026
Chikungunya vaccines in Europe: what regulators say about Ixchiq and Vimkunya and who they are for
Two chikungunya vaccines hold EU authorisation. Here is what European regulators say about how each one works, who may receive it, and which safety limits apply.
- 08 Sept 2026
Qdenga, the dengue vaccine available in Europe: who it is for and what it does
Learn about Qdenga, a dengue vaccine authorised in Europe. This resource explains who it is for, how it works, and what it does based on official evidence.
- 02 Sept 2026
Malaria Vaccines RTS,S and R21: What They Do, Who Receives Them and Where They Are Used
Malaria vaccines RTS,S and R21 protect children against the most dangerous malaria parasite. Learn how they work and where they are used.