Tiger Mosquito in Algeria: Spread, Risks, and How to Protect Your Community

Introduction

The tiger mosquito in Algeria—Aedes albopictus—has shifted from a curiosity to a genuine public-health concern. First detected in the west (Oran) and then confirmed in Algiers, this invasive day-biting mosquito has since expanded its range across many northern wilayas, thriving around homes, patios, nurseries, and small water containers. (PubMed, pasteur.dz)

As climate suitability and human mobility accelerate its spread, the tiger mosquito in Algeria raises the risk of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika introductions. Vigilant surveillance by the Institut Pasteur d’Algérie (IPA), coupled with household-level prevention, remains our best defense. (pasteur.dz)

Quick Facts (Algeria)

• First reports: Ain Turk (Oran), survey December 2015 (published 2016); entomological investigation in Algiers (Bir-Khadem) July 2016. (PubMed)

• Current presence: IPA communications and local press indicate sustained establishment across a large share of northern Algeria within a decade. (37degres.dz, El watan)

• Northeast records: Subsequent findings in Annaba–El Tarf–Souk Ahras underscore spread and local adaptation. (ResearchGate, smujo.id)

• Public-health relevance: Competent vector for dengue, chikungunya, Zika; regional outbreaks in North Africa/Europe show what’s possible if introductions occur. (PLOS, ECDC)

1) What Is the Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus)?

• Appearance: Small black mosquito with white stripes on legs and a single white dorsal line—hence “tiger.”

• Behavior: Day-biting, aggressive, often multiple bites; prefers shady outdoor areas near people.

• Breeding: Eggs laid on container edges; larvae develop in very small volumes of water (saucers, buckets, tires, gutters). (pasteur.dz)

2) The Arrival and Spread in Algeria

2015–2016: Introduction and first detections

• Oran (Ain Turk): Complaints of daytime bites triggered a survey; Ae. albopictus confirmed—first report in Algeria. (PubMed)

• Algiers (Bir-Khadem): July 2016 investigation found eggs, larvae, and adults in residential villas. (PubMed)

2017–2025: Establishment and eastward records

• Northeast Algeria: Peer-reviewed fieldwork documents the species within Annaba–El Tarf and nearby wilayas, with ecology and co-occurrence data published in 2025. (ResearchGate)

• Souk Ahras: Additional reporting confirms presence in the far northeast. (smujo.id)

Current situation at a glance

• IPA outreach (2022–2023) notes sustained establishment and widespread presence across much of northern Algeria, calling for public participation in source reduction. (37degres.dz, El watan)

3) Why the Tiger Mosquito Matters in Algeria

• Human proximity: It breeds where we live—urban and peri-urban micro-containers. (pasteur.dz)

• Disease potential: While local transmission requires virus introduction, Aedes albopictus can carry dengue, chikungunya, Zika—pathogens repeatedly introduced into the Mediterranean region via travel. (PLOS)

• Regional risk context: Europe and North Africa have recorded expanding ranges and sporadic autochthonous dengue/chikungunya—signaling conditions Algeria must prepare for. (ECDC)

4) Seasonal Pattern & Hotspots in Algeria

• Peak season: Late spring through autumn in the northern coastal and sub-coastal belt, when temperatures and rainfall/irrigation create small water pools.

• Micro-hotspots: Residential yards, construction sites, cemeteries, nurseries, car-tire depots—anywhere water stagnates for 5–7 days. IPA warns especially about patios, plant saucers, gutters, and nurseries. (pasteur.dz)

5) How to Protect Your Home (The “10-Minute Weekly” Routine)

1. Empty all standing water (saucers, buckets, toys, tarps).

2. Scrub container walls (eggs stick above the waterline).

3. Cover rain barrels and water storage tightly (mesh ≤1 mm).

4. Clean gutters and street drains near your property.

5. Store tires dry and covered or dispose properly.

6. Refresh pet bowls and birdbaths every 48 hours.

7. Check construction areas for puddles after rain.

8. Use window/door screens; repair tears.

9. Apply repellents (DEET or picaridin) when outdoors during the day.

10. Report unusual daytime mosquito nuisances to local health services/IPA. (pasteur.dz)

6) Community & Municipal Control (What Works Best)

• Source reduction at scale: Neighborhood cleanup drives before and after heat waves or rainfall.

• Targeted larviciding: Use bacterial larvicides (e.g., Bti) in non-removable water bodies; prioritize nurseries, tire yards, and public fountains.

• Surveillance: Ovitrap networks and citizen reporting—methods used in Algeria’s early detections—enable rapid response. (PubMed)

• Risk communication: IPA’s ongoing campaigns show community engagement is pivotal. (pasteur.dz)

7) Travel & Arbovirus Preparedness

• Prevent importation: Travelers to dengue/chikungunya-active countries should use repellents; if febrile after return, seek testing and avoid mosquito exposure for 7–10 days to prevent onward transmission.

• Regional watch: North Africa and the Mediterranean continue to see range expansion of Aedes albopictus; preparedness plans should include case detection, vector control, and public alerts. (ECDC)

8) Research Frontiers in Algeria

• Ecological niche mapping of Ae. albopictus in northern wilayas.

• Urban micro-environment studies (patios, informal storage) to quantify container productivity.

• Community trials for sustained source-reduction behavior guided by IPA.

• Genetic/biological control (e.g., Wolbachia, SIT) evaluated against local climatic constraints and housing types.

FAQ Schema ideas (Q&A snippets):

• When was the tiger mosquito first detected in Algeria?
  First reported in Oran (Ain Turk) in 2015–2016 and Algiers (Bir-Khadem) in July 2016. (PubMed)

• Where does it breed around homes?
  In very small water containers—saucers, buckets, gutters, tires, nurseries. (pasteur.dz)

• Which diseases can it transmit?
  Competent for dengue, chikungunya, Zika; risk depends on virus introductions. (PLOS)

• What’s the most effective prevention in Algeria?
  Weekly container elimination plus targeted larviciding in persistent water sites, as promoted by IPA. (pasteur.dz)

References (key sources)

• Oran first report (Acta Tropica, based on Dec 2015 survey; publ. 2016). (PubMed)

• Algiers Bir-Khadem investigation (fieldwork July 2016; publ. 2019). (PubMed)

• IPA public guidance on the moustique-tigre in Algeria. (pasteur.dz)

• Northeast distribution/ecology (Journal of Insect Biodiversity & Systematics, 2025) and Souk Ahras report. (ResearchGate, smujo.id)

• Regional spread context (ECDC 2025; North Africa studies on competence). (ECDC, PLOS)