An Asian mosquito species may arrive in the UK, bringing with it a significant risk of potentially fatal disease.

The Asian tiger mosquito has already been detected in Italy as well as other parts of Europe, including Germany and Holland. This particular species of mosquito has been known to spread chikungunya fever throughout parts of south-east Asia, and it is said that Italy has already seen the Asian pest become firmly established in its north-eastern provinces.

There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of British people who have returned from south-east Asia with the disease - from 6 people in 2004 to 130 people in 2006, just two years later. It is said that "widespread establishment" of the fever in Britain is possible due to our warm and damp summer period. Scientists at the Government's Health Protection Agency (HPA) at Porton Down in Wiltshire claim that the UK summer climate creates perfect breeding conditions for the mosquito.

The insect itself is spread throughout the world in used car tyres - trapped water in the rims of the tyres carry their eggs. These eggs are also transported in popular bamboo plants from China, which has led to the mosquito's establishment in major port cities such as Rotterdam.

Between June and September of last year there were 292 suspected cases of chikungunya fever in the north-eastern Italian province of Ravenna alone. It is since been proven that an Italian woman returning from the Indian sub-continent - where the fever has been detected and shown to have spread from south-east Asia - introduced the virus into Italy.

The mosquito has been well established in north-eastern Italy since 1990, however it is feared that the pest's regular feeding will act as a catalyst to the spreading of chikungunya fever. This is because it feeds throughout the day as well as the night, unlike most other types of mosquito.

Chikungunya fever is a very serious disease which should not be underestimated. People with the disease develop a fever that lasts a couple of days. This is quickly followed by severe and intense headaches, joint pains, as well as insomnia which can last for days, even weeks, after the original bite. The woman who originally introduced the virus into Italy actually died from the disease.

The Asian tiger mosquito is said to have a quick, penetrating bite which can spread as much as 20 other diseases, including Yellow fever and Dengue.

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