Health authorities in the northern region of Normandy have reported the widespread presence of tiger mosquitoes, an invasive species that can carry diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. The discovery was made following fieldwork conducted in the Seine-Maritime department in September 2023, revealing the northward progression of the mosquito in France.

According to the Normandy regional health agency, this marks the first time the mosquito has settled in this region, making it ubiquitous in mainland France. The presence of Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito, was initially recorded in France in 2004 and has since spread throughout the country. As of January 1, 2023, the mosquitoes were found in 71 of the country’s 101 departments, as reported by the French health ministry.

Originally native to tropical rainforests in southeast Asia, tiger mosquitoes have adapted to the climate in France and northern Europe due to rising temperatures, with winters no longer cold enough to eradicate them. As a result, the Normandy health agency has recommended taking practical measures to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, including the removal of potential breeding sites.