Asian Tiger mosquitoes were located in St Julians and Mosta yesterday, after residents were on the alert for malicious insects when family members got nasty insect bites.

The mosquito, Aedes Albopictus, is a carrier of possibly fatal human diseases like the dengue fever and a potential carrier of yellow fever, LaCrosse encephalitis and dog heartworm.

The St Julians resident sent The Times photos of the mosquito, which were passed on to the Health Ministry. Another correspondent from Mosta wrote in saying he had killed a mosquito that looked similar to the Asian Tiger.

Public health director general Ray Busuttil said when contacted that although the insect caused nasty bites, the diseases it would normally transmit from person to person were not present in Malta and, therefore, the risk to public health was very small.

Mr Busuttil said the department was well aware of the mosquito’s presence in a number of towns and villages on the island and they were mapping out its distribution with the help of experts in the field.

The Health Department has already alerted doctors about the symptoms of such diseases and is currently drawing up a preparedness plan for actions to be taken should a disease source be identified.

The Asian Tiger mosquito gets its name from its black and white striped legs and small black and white body. It is native to the tropical areas of southeast Asia but has migrated through the transport of goods and increasing international travel to several other countries. This species is proven to be difficult to suppress due to its remarkable ability to adapt to various environments.

According to research, insecticides have only a limited effect on the mosquito. However, avoiding stagnant water where the insect can lay its eggs will limit its chance of spread, especially because this mosquito is said to be a weak flier.

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