The Local Health Unit of Castelo Branco issued a public alert confirming the detection of the Aedes albopictus mosquito, known as the tiger mosquito, in the municipality. This species is capable of transmitting serious viral diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya. Despite the epidemiological warning, health authorities reassure the population by stating that no mosquito infected with virus has been detected so far in Portugal.
The identification of the species resulted from the work of the Vector Surveillance Network, which involves the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, the Directorate-General for Health and the local Public Health Units. Authorities emphasize that the arrival of the tiger mosquito in Castelo Branco was already expected, given the monitoring of the expansion of this invasive species over the years. An enhanced response plan has been activated to monitor the evolution of the insect in the region.
The Aedes albopictus can be identified by its distinct visual characteristics: dark-colored body and legs, a prominent white longitudinal line on the top of the head and thorax, and a well-marked pattern of white and black stripes on the abdomen and legs.
The presence of Aedes mosquitoes in Portugal has been monitored for two decades. In 2005, the Aedes aegypti was first detected in the Madeira archipelago, followed by the introduction of Aedes albopictus in the north of the continent in 2017. Between 2018 and 2022, expansion continued in the Algarve and Alentejo, and in 2025 the species was identified in Covilhã and, more recently, in the municipality of Castelo Branco.
