Asian tiger mosquito found in southwest Switzerland
Asian tiger mosquitoes in Switzerland have so far not been found to be carrying diseases, say the authorities
Keystone
A tiger mosquito, an invasive species from Asia which can carry tropical diseases, has been discovered in the southwestern canton of Valais for the first time.
Scientists confirmed the presence of a specimen in the town of Monthey. Inspections of sites that could contain larvae have been stepped up, the cantonal authorities said in a statementExternal link on Wednesday. Targeted action has also been initiated to destroy any potential colonies.
The specimen found in Monthey does not mean that the species has taken up a permanent presence in the canton, although this may be the case in the near future, say the authorities.
Originally from southeast Asia, the tiger mosquito has been spreading across Europe. It was first seen in Switzerland in the southern canton of Ticino in 2003. It was discovered north of the Alps in 2007. Its presence has also been confirmed in several other parts of the country, including most recently in Geneva.
In other parts of the world these mosquitoes can carry tropical diseases such as Zika, dengue fever or Chikungunya. But those in Switzerland have so far not been found to be carrying diseases, say the Valais authorities, so being bitten “does not at this time represent any particular danger for the population”.
More
More
Asian tiger mosquitoes descend on Zurich
This content was published on
Asian tiger mosquitoes, which can carry harmful diseases like the Zika virus, have reached the Swiss city of Zurich.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
This content was published on
Switzerland has waged war on invasive species. The fight is starting to bear fruit, but private citizens have to lend a hand.
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.