Scientists have revealed that the Asian tiger mosquito, which can carry deadly viruses, has been discovered in the prefecture of Serres in northern Greece.

The findings were made public after a conference in Serres last week when local experts revealed they had caught some Asian tiger mosquitoes in July.

This type of mosquito is normally only found in the forests of Asia, Africa and South America. The insect is about 5 millimeters long with distinctive yellow stripes.

Asian tiger mosquitoes can carry the West Nile virus, which was responsible for nearly 300 deaths out of more than 4,000 cases in the USA in 2002.

However, the head of Greece's center for combating mosquitoes, Efthymios Rambotas, said that the find in Serres was an isolated incident and that the public need not worry.