In a statement, the DGS states that the species 'Aedes albopictus', whose presence had already been detected in previous years in other areas of the country, was “identified for the first time in the Municipality of Lisbon”.

The species in question can transmit diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and zika, but the DGS emphasises that there is, for now, no increased risk to the health of the population.

“In Portugal, no disease agents that can be transmitted to people have been identified in these mosquitoes, nor have there been any cases of the human disease recorded to date”, says the statement.

Even so, the DGS says it has reinforced entomological and epidemiological surveillance, “and the implementation of measures to control the mosquito population is underway”.

“The mosquitoes were identified as part of entomological surveillance, demonstrating the operational capacity of the Vector Surveillance Network, implemented throughout the national territory”, says the national health authority.

Monitoring, assessment of the situation and intervention are the responsibility of the Public Health Services at regional and local level, in conjunction with the DGS and the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge.