Worse yet is the risk of another species of mosquito, the Aedes aegypti, managing to establish itself in Europe due to global travel. While mostly found in tropical regions, it has been present in Cyprus since 2022, and brings with it the prospect of yellow fever, an “epidemic-prone” disease, in the words of the World Health Organization.
But Marie-Claire Paty, head of the vector-borne disease monitoring unit at Public Health France, says that the country’s experience with tropical overseas territories such as Guadeloupe and Martinique, where large outbreaks of dengue are common, as well as responding to COVID-19 mean it is better prepared than most. It is obligatory to report any case of dengue to health authorities in Metropolitan France.
“Yes, the risk is larger than ever,” explains Paty. “But we have been battling against vector-borne diseases for decades.”
As well as the traps, which contain larvicide in the water to prevent mosquitoes from being born, Paris is working on an awareness-raising campaign to encourage the public to get rid of stagnant water in places like gardens and parks, where mosquito eggs can hatch.
Health authorities have also been contacting hotels, schools and other venues in Paris in the hope of maximising the likelihood of early detection, and have set up a website where citizens can report sightings of tiger mosquitos across the nation.
More generally, the use of repellents, mosquito nets, and organic insecticides are recommended to ward off mosquitoes. Across the broader industry, researchers are also exploring DNA modification and sterilisation to counter mosquitos.
Meanwhile, innovative solutions, such as mosquito traps that mimic human body odours to attract and kill mosquitoes, will be deployed to protect the Marseille Marina, a venue for sailing competitions during the Olympics.
But despite those multi-pronged efforts, Gossner warns that halting the spread of mosquitoes at the Olympics and beyond remains a considerable task as Europe enters unknown territory battling a tiny but incredibly adaptable foe.
“It will be very difficult to prevent and completely prepare for,” she says. “This is still a relatively new challenge for continental Europe. We have a lot to learn.”
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