Warning as tiger mosquitoes 'already in one UK region' as fever surges through Europe

An urgent warning has been issued for the after an invasive species of mosquito known to transmit dengue fever has established itself in 13 EU countries - and it's already present in one UK region.

Asian Tiger mosquitoes are spreading across the continent due to a rise in climate change creating favourable conditions for the blood-sucking insects. The mosquito has even been located in the Kent area, according to experts.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning that about half of the world's population is now at risk of the "bone breaking" dengue fever, with an estimated 100-400 million infections each year in the future.

Tiger mosquitoes have established themselves in some regions in Northern France and have been introduced in Belgium and the Netherlands.

And now the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) told the Express that the “environmental conditions in the UK are likely to become suitable” for Tiger mosquitoes.

A spokesperson for ECDC said: “The mosquito spreads through (international) travel and transportation of goods, hence further introduction of the mosquito in the UK is expected to occur and, with climate change, the environmental conditions in the UK are likely to become suitable for the establishment of the vector. It is, however, not possible to give a timeline.

"The mosquito is also in one region in the UK. Areas where the mosquito is established are theoretically at risk of seeing outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and zika at some point in the future, though many factors would influence the occurrence of outbreaks.”

Dengue fever can be fatal in severe cases, although it often presents mild or no symptoms.

But what exactly is dengue fever, how can you identify if you have it, what does it do - and how do you contract it?

While most people who contract dengue fever won't show any symptoms, those who do may experience high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. The majority of patients recover within one to two weeks.

However, in some cases, individuals develop severe dengue which requires hospitalisation and can even be fatal. To reduce your risk, it's advised to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. This can include wearing longer clothes to protect your skin and using an effective repellent.