The Galician Vector Surveillance Network has confirmed the detection of tiger mosquito larvae in the zone of Torroso (Mos), within the monitoring tasks in municipalities close to the area where the presence of this insect was already known in Galicia.
This observation implies the implementation of a reinforcement of control with traps to assess its extent and abundance, and is accompanied by the call from Sanidade to citizens to avoid breeding grounds, remembering that the tiger mosquito is vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
Detection in Torroso (Mos)
Confirmation comes from the ReGaViVec, in which the Xunta and the universities of Vigo and Santiago collaborate. Being in larval stage, technicians point out that the species is probably already settled in the town.
With this discovery, Mos joins the coordinated work with other local councils —Moaña, Vigo, Cangas, Redondela, O Porriño, Vilaboa and Bueu- in it tiger mosquito technical committee.
Strengthening surveillance and control
ReGaViVec and the Mos Council will expand surveillance through the trap setting, following criteria of Public Health and the advice of entomologists, with the aim of delimiting the extension and abundance of the population.
These actions will be complemented with information for residents and technical support to identify and treat possible domestic outbreaks en private properties, where the insect usually takes advantage of small accumulations of water.
Recommendations for citizens
The most effective measure to break the breeding cycle is remove stagnant water and prevent females from laying eggs. It is recommended to empty or renew the water. every 4-5 days in common containers.
- Check and empty plates under flower pots y waterers of animals frequently.
- Remove or cover buckets and cauldrons in the open air that accumulate water.
- Check boats and garden elements that can retain water and renew it regularly.
- Use authorized repellents, dress Long sleeve edition y closed footwear, and install nets on doors and windows.
Bites are usually only annoying, but in some cases they can trigger allergic reactions of a certain severity, so it is advisable to take extreme precautions during periods of greatest insect activity.
How to collaborate: the Mosquito Alert app
Health promotes the use of Mosquito Alert, an application that, in collaboration with the CSIC, allows citizens to send photographs for verification by entomology specialists.
This participation helps to improve the mass surveillance and early response, making it easier for technical teams to prioritize areas of action and monitoring.
Context in Galicia
The tiger mosquito was detected for the first time in Galicia in end of August 2023 and, since then, its presence has spread throughout the area of Vigo and the Rías Baixas, with recent confirmations in bueu and now in Moss.
The location of larvae in Mos follows a pattern consistent with records in nearby municipalities such as O Porrino y Redondela, which underlines the importance of the community prevention to stop its expansion.
With the detection of larvae in Torroso, Mos activates more control with surveillance traps, coordinates with the technical committee and requests neighborhood collaboration: eliminate breeding grounds, use repellents and report through Mosquito Alert They are the keys to breaking the insect's reproduction chain.