Climate Factors Predict Future Mosquito Activity
Published:13 Jul.2022 Source:New York University
Increases in three climate factors -- temperature, rainfall, and ocean warming -- predicted mosquito population growth in Sri Lanka for the next one to six months, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. The findings, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, can inform the design and timing of programs to limit the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue.
Nearly half of the world's population lives in areas at risk for dengue, which has become a major public health problem in Sri Lanka. Because developing a safe and effective vaccine against dengue has proven to be difficult, controlling mosquito populations is considered to be the most effective strategy to prevent the virus's spread.