The tiger mosquito will probably become a permanent fixture in the Netherlands in two to five years, posing a risk to public health, caretaker health minister Jan Anthonie Bruijn has told MPs in a briefing.

The black-and-white mosquito can transmit viruses that cause diseases in humans, including dengue fever and the Zika virus, which can damage the development of foetuses in the womb.

Tiger mosquitoes, originally from Southeast Asia, are already established in southern European countries such as Spain and France, making their way here in international haulage lorries and holidaymakers’ cars and caravans.

They have now been found in over 50 local authority areas, compared to just a few in 2005, when it first appeared in the Netherlands. There have been no cases yet of tiger mosquito-borne infections in humans here so far.

The minister said he would announce new measures to eradicate the mosquito in the new year but warned that once established, it would be very difficult to get rid of completely.

Safety standards agency NVWA, which monitors the spread of the mosquito, has already said it is reaching the limit of what it can do and is calling in the help of local councils to help combat the tiger mosquito, particularly in urban areas.

According to Wageningen University biologist Arnold van Vliet, the rise of “one of the most invasive species in the world” is “definitely cause for concern”, not only because of the risk of disease but also for its effect on outdoor pursuits. The mosquito strikes during the day as well.

The minister’s briefing is a “wake-up call” for all local councils, Van Vliet said. “When the mosquito is here to stay, they will have to have a plan. People will also have to take the threat seriously and empty containers filled with water where mosquitoes breed, and put up insect window screens and mosquito nets.

Thanks to imports from tropical countries and climate change, nothing will eradicate the tiger mosquito completely, he said. “We had better get ready for the worst”.