A mosquito which can transmit a severe form of encephalitis to humans has been found in Greece for the first time, scientists said at a conference in Thessaloniki yesterday.

The Asian Tiger mosquito, or Aedes albopictus, is native to Southeast Asia but has spread its wings and was recently discovered in Albania and Italy.

The mosquito, which has a black and white body, likely completed its journey to Greece in the last two years, scientists from the National School of Public Administration (NSPA) said.

The Asian Tiger mosquito is considered aggressive and different from other mosquitos as it flies and feeds during the day.

It is known to carry

several viruses, including Eastern equine encephalitis, which can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications and death.

«The state and relevant authorities have to adopt measures to fight this [the mosquito] with the proper methods to prevent it spreading,» the head of the NSPA, Anna Samanidou, told Kathimerini.