The discovery that a mosquito species capable of transmitting the Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses is breeding in east London may sound alarming, particularly to people living nearby. Yet finding the species is several steps removed from finding evidence that any of these viruses are circulating locally.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and larvae have been found at residential properties in east London. This is the first recorded instance of the species breeding in the UK, although it is the fourth time the mosquito has been detected in Britain in recent years.
