Overview
- The sequence of heavy June rainfall followed by a record heatwave has created warm, standing-water conditions that let mosquito eggs hatch in days and boost adult activity.
- Experts warn the change in weather has already pushed up the likelihood of more mosquito bites this week as larvae mature faster in higher temperatures.
- Invasive Aedes mosquitoes that can carry dengue, chikungunya and Zika are not established in the UK, but surveillance has found Aedes albopictus eggs here, which raises future transmission concerns.
- Public-health advice is practical and immediate: use insect repellent, cover exposed skin with long sleeves, and wear socks in the evening to reduce bites.
- Modelling cited by researchers projects that London-area climates could become suitable for endemic dengue by the 2060s, so scientists say current vigilance and monitoring are needed to track any change in mosquito populations.