A new study coordinated from Portugal and published in Nature Communications reveals alarming global invasion patterns of mosquito species that transmit major human diseases, including malaria, dengue, and Zika. Conducted by an international research team involving the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, the Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Lisboa, and the University of Vienna, the study shows a substantial and accelerating rise in introductions of these vectors worldwide.
The authors report that 45 mosquito species capable of transmitting human diseases have been introduced outside their native ranges, with 28 species now successfully established. Since 2000 alone, 12 new species have been recorded in non-native regions, substantially increasing the potential for disease transmission in previously unaffected areas.
By assembling the first global database of human-mediated mosquito introductions, the study demonstrates that the global movement of goods and people is a key driver of this phenomenon. Pathways such as used tires, ornamental plants, and shipping containers facilitate the unintentional transport of mosquito eggs and larvae. Moreover, the data indicate a geographical shift in the origin of introductions, with Asia now surpassing Africa as the primary source region.
From a public health perspective, the expansion of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus — two of the most medically significant mosquito species — now spans every continent except Antarctica. The recent spread of Anopheles stephensi, an urban malaria vector first detected in Africa in 2012 and now established in at least nine African countries, further highlights the growing risk of vector-borne diseases in new regions.
The study also shows that countries with higher GDP per capita and population density are particularly vulnerable, a pattern reflected in Europe, where France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are critical points of entry and establishment.
“The geographic expansion of these mosquitoes is transforming global patterns of epidemiological risk, including in temperate regions such as Europe,” says Carla A. Sousa, professor at IHMT NOVA, researcher from VBD-GHTM Research Group and co-author of the study.
“These introductions are part of a growing global increase in biological invasions. It is likely that new species will continue to be introduced in the coming years, bringing consequences that remain difficult to predict,” adds César Capinha, biogeographer and study coordinator at the University of Lisbon.
Rebecca Pabst, PhD student from VBD-GHTM Research Group, contributed to the global data analysis and emphasizes the importance of international collaboration for predicting and mitigating the spread of invasive mosquito species.
The authors emphasize that once established, vector mosquitoes are extremely difficult to eradicate, underscoring the need for continuous entomological surveillance and proactive prevention strategies. By providing a comprehensive global database of human-mediated mosquito introductions, this study offers a critical scientific foundation for strengthening international cooperation and policy responses to mitigate the health risks posed by invasive mosquito species.
To explore the full study and its global implications, read the complete article in Nature Communications.
[…] During the conversation, she explained how mosquitoes, including invasive species such as the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), survive the winter and establish themselves in new environments. Rebecca emphasized that while climate change may influence the future establishment and expansion of these species, their introduction is primarily driven by globalisation, international trade, and human mobility — a pattern confirmed by recent research conducted by the GHTM team and published in Nature Communications (2025). […]