h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In my Entry I said this:

'A vector of concern in the United Kingdom is the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a tropical species, found primarily in Asia and West Africa. This is of concern because its eggs have been found in used tyres which are imported for retreading or recycling; and it is a mosquito that can survive temperate climates.'

Now two Asian tiger mosquitos have been found in a suburban back garden in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

The mosquitos are believed to have enrtered Britain on container ships and then thrived in this year's wet weather.
Asian tiger mosquitosnormally found only in the forests of Asia, Africa and S. America, were frst repoted in Europe in 1979 and in Albania and Italy in 1990. More recently yhey have been seen in France, Belgium, Mpontenegro, Israel, Switzerland and Spain. There have been no previously recoded sitings of adult mosquitos in the UK.

Asian tiger mosquitos can transmit up to 23 infections includng West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever.

A spokesperson from Britain's Health Protection Agency said that'In certain parts of Europe where the species can be found, they are not able to carry any viruses'.

The insect is particularly dangerous because, unlike other mosquito species, it bites in the day as well as in the evening.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3126075.stm

Newspaper report:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=476562&in_page_id=1770&ito=1490

Scientists at the HPA Porton Down have given a further warning that the tiger mosquito could survive in Britain. As well as WNV, it can transmit chikungunya virus and the potentially fatal Dengue fever:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/mosquito-invasion-brings-disease-risk-to-uk-834300.html