Local authorities across France are warning people against tiger mosquitoes, and how to prevent them - and the illnesses they can carry - from spreading.
Tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) can carry diseases including dengue fever and chikungunya. They spread disease by biting someone who has the illness, and then biting someone else. This means that these illnesses can spread to people ‘natively’, even if the person has not recently travelled to a ‘hotspot’ country.
Despite their name, tiger mosquitoes are smaller than regular mosquitoes, do not make the high-pitched buzzing sound, and tend to bite during the day rather than in the evenings. They can be recognised by their striped white and black bodies.
They were first detected in France in 2004, and have now been reported in every region, especially on the Mediterranean coast and Provence.
Anti-mosquito agencies in France have been on alert for tiger mosquitoes since February this year, when heavy rainfall and mild temperatures led to fears that the insects could already be spreading.
Last summer, more than 300 native cases of mosquito-borne diseases were recorded in France; the highest level to date.
Between May 1 and September 2, 44 episodes of either chikungunya or dengue fever were registered in mainland France, states health authority Santé Publique France in its latest report.
Each episode corresponded to an outbreak of the diseases and can relate to one or multiple cases – for example, one chikungunya episode in Fréjus (Var) led to 47 cases. Overall, 301 native cases of chikungunya were identified, alongside 19 native cases of dengue fever during the summer period.
This is far higher than the levels seen in 2024, when 127 native cases were recorded.
These ‘native’ cases are recorded when an individual contracts a disease despite not leaving France for at least 15 days prior. This means they were infected by a mosquito in mainland France.
Alongside these native cases, between May 1, 2025 and September 2, 2025 there were close to 2,000 imported cases, where someone contracted the disease outside of mainland France and then brought it back:
957 imported cases of chikungunya
862 imported cases of dengue
7 imported cases of Zika virus
Education and prevention
In a bid to raise awareness and improve anti-mosquito campaigns, the regional health education committee, le Comité Régional d’Education pour la Santé (CRES), is organising a meeting with experts on June 2, 2026, in Marseille.
The day will aim to help experts from across various relevant authorities to better coordinate the anti-mosquito effort, prevent the spread of any epidemic, and improve public campaigns on how to report the insects, how to prevent them, and how to report and contain any suspected mosquito-spread illnesses.
Last year, authorities in Brive-La-Gaillarde (Corrèze) became the first in the country to take part in an innovative anti-mosquito scheme, which saw them release 10 million sterile male insects. Because each mosquito was sterile, the aim was to stop the insects from breeding in the first place.
The scheme cost €52,000, and saw 40,000 insects released every few days over the summer.
Females only try to mate once in their lives, so mating with a sterile male mosquito ensures that they do not produce larvae. The short lifespan of tiger mosquitoes – 21 days – means they will be unlikely to find a non-sterile mating partner, which will lead to a reduction in the species’ population.
Mosquitoes mainly stay in the same location throughout their life, not flying more than a kilometre from where they hatch, meaning local numbers reduce.
Male mosquitoes do not bite.
How can I combat tiger mosquitoes at home?
The best way to avoid tiger mosquito bites is to prevent them from appearing near your home in the first place, states the Métropole Provence Méditerranée authority on its website. This means removing as much stagnant water as possible, as this is where they breed.
It states: “Without access to water, the tiger mosquito cannot breed.”
For example, around your garden, it advises:
Empty containers and buckets after every rainfall or watering
Cover rainwater collectors with a tight-fitting mosquito net
Clean gutters regularly to ensure proper drainage
Remove any unnecessary items from the garden that might trap water
Water plants in the morning, to give the water the longest possible time over the day to evaporate
Keep your pool clean and free of plants and debris
“By adopting these good habits, everyone can help reduce the presence of the tiger mosquito and preserve the quality of life in our country,” the authority adds.
It also advises against the use of chemical insecticides, because these can have negative effects on biodiversity. Instead, you can encourage the presence of predators (birds and bats) by installing bird or bat boxes in your garden or balcony.
How can I prevent bites?
The official health agency Anses (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire) also advises people to prevent bites by:
Wearing long covering clothing
Using anti-mosquito products (although the effectiveness of these can be limited)
Cover doors and windows with anti-mosquito netting
Use anti-mosquito traps treated with anti-mosquito product
It also says that mosquitoes are not attracted by light; rather, they are drawn in by carbon dioxide that humans breathe out.
What if I see a tiger mosquito or get bitten by one?
If you see a tiger mosquito or believe you have been bitten or infected by one, report it at the Anses website here.
Symptoms of the mosquito-borne illnesses can vary – our previous articles on chikungunya and dengue fever outline the most common.
If you believe that you have become ill following a bite, report this to a doctor immediately, even if you have not recently returned from travelling in a ‘hotspot’ country.
Doctors in France are required to report suspected cases of these diseases to health authorities.
