Budapest’s third and fourth districts, along with the counties of Bács-Kiskun, Baranya, Békés, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Csongrád-Csanád, Hajdú-Bihar, Heves, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komárom-Esztergom, Pest and Tolna, are set to undergo ground-based chemical mosquito control this week, Hungary’s disaster management authority announced on Monday via state news agency MTI.

Asian tiger mosquitos gain ground in Hungary

According to the statement, operations will target a total of 151 settlements in addition to the two districts of the capital, covering an area of 31,600 hectares. Specialists will carry out spraying in residential areas using equipment mounted on flatbed vehicles.

The insecticide will be dispersed in fine droplets at very low doses during the evening and night hours. Authorities stressed that the intervention poses no risk to bees, nor to humans or domestic animals.

It was also noted that invasive species—most notably the Asian tiger mosquito—have been gaining ground across the majority of the affected areas.

“Previously, water collected around homes, in garden tools and other small reservoirs typically supported mosquito species that fed mainly on birds,” the statement said. “Over the past decade, however, these habitats have increasingly been taken over by invasive species that also bite humans. These mosquitoes are often encountered during the day, although they are most active around sunset. In addition, native species breeding in smaller woodland sites have begun to spread into residential areas.”

Very dangerous diseases

The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is a highly capable vector known to transmit at least 22 types of arboviruses, along with certain parasites. The list includes:

  • Dengue fever: Causes severe flu-like symptoms, high fever, and intense joint pain.
  • Chikungunya fever: Leads to acute fever, rashes, and long-lasting, debilitating joint pain.
  • Zika virus: Can cause fever, rashes, and serious congenital birth defects if pregnant women are infected.
  • West Nile virus: May result in neurological complications or West Nile fever.
  • Yellow fever: A serious tropical disease causing fever, jaundice, and potential organ failure.
  • Various Encephalitides: Including Eastern Equine, St. Louis, and La Crosse encephalitis, which cause brain inflammation.
  • Usutu virus: A bird-borne virus that can occasionally cross over to humans

Furthermore, the Asian tiger mosquito is not only dangerous on humans, but also to dogs. That is because it may carry dirofilaria immitis (dog heartworm), a dangerous roundworm parasite that infects dogs and other domestic pets.

The Asian tiger mosquito grows to around 0.9 centimetres and differs from ordinary mosquitoes in its striking black-and-white colouring.

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Mosquitoes in Hungary may spread extremely dangerous tropical diseases