Today at 06:30 • Updated today at 07:52
The mosquito is no longer just an annoying insect that chases you out of your bedroom. According to virologist Babs Verstrepen of Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda, the mosquito will increasingly pose a health risk in the coming years. That is why she wants to turn Breda into a testing ground for research into mosquitoes and the diseases they can spread.
“What we in the Netherlands still have to get used to is the idea that mosquitoes can make us sick,” says Verstrepen. “That hardly happens now, but those viruses do come this way.”
She advocates a so-called ‘living lab’: a collaboration between Avans University of Applied Sciences, GGD, province, water board and municipality of Breda to investigate where mosquitoes develop, how residents are inconvenienced and what measures work to prevent the spread.
“The tiger mosquito, which carries diseases, has now reached as far as Paris.”
According to virologist Verstrepen, three developments are happening at the same time. “We will have longer and warmer summers due to climate change, which are ideal conditions for mosquitoes, causing the population to increase sharply. In addition, our regular household mosquitoes can also transmit viruses. And then you have exotic species, such as the tiger mosquito, which can carry other diseases.”
The West Nile virus in particular worries her. This virus is spread via common mosquitoes and originally mainly occurs in birds. In most cases it causes few complaints, but sometimes it leads to serious neurological problems such as encephalitis.
In addition, the exotic tiger mosquito is also advancing from Southern Europe. It can spread diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. “Local infections have now reached approximately Paris,” she says. “So that’s getting closer.”
Native Mosquito Viruses:
West Nile virus: mild flu symptoms, sometimes encephalitis.
Sindbis virus: fever, rash, muscle and joint pain.
Exotic mosquitoes:
Dengue (dengue fever): high fever, severe muscle and joint pain, rash.
Chikungunya: sudden fever and prolonged joint pain.
Babs Verstrepen emphatically wants to avoid panic. “It is not an acute disaster scenario,” she emphasizes several times. “But we do have to prepare for it. We are currently still in a phase in which we can build up knowledge.”
That is precisely why she thinks Breda is suitable as a research city. Not only because of the presence of Avans University of Applied Sciences with its research facilities, but also because of the layout of the city. According to her, mosquitoes do not so much develop in large bodies of water, but rather in small pools of stagnant water.
“Sewer gullies are important breeding grounds, because there is always a layer of water in them,” she explains. “But also think of rain barrels, the canals with pleasure boats with a layer of water in them, empty beer bottles in the garden or the base of a parasol.”
She also sees opportunities to actively involve residents. For example, students could investigate gardens for potential breeding grounds or conduct experiments with simple solutions. “Everyone knows the story of a drop of soap against mosquitoes in a rain barrel, but we actually don’t know how well that works.”
“You’re not going to stop mosquitoes.”
Yet cooperation with the municipality of Breda is difficult, says Verstrepen. According to her, officials are interested, but no concrete agreements are reached. “Everyone finds it interesting, but if you ask to sit down together, everyone has a busy agenda.”
She emphatically states that she is not asking for a large financial contribution. “I don’t need money from the municipality. I especially want us to think together and for students to be able to conduct research safely in public spaces.”
Because if the Netherlands starts preparing too late, she believes that ultimately one option will remain: combating with chemicals.
“You’re not going to stop mosquitoes,” says Verstrepen. “But you can ensure that you understand what is happening and keep it under control. And that you make people aware of what they can do themselves.”
Who is Babs Verstrepen?
Babs Verstrepen (54) is a virologist and researcher at the Center of Expertise Perspectief in Health of Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda. She focuses on virus detection and on issues surrounding infectious diseases that can spread from animals to humans.
Previously, Breda worked at Erasmus MC / ViroScience under the guidance of the well-known virologist Marion Koopmans.
