The U.S. is unprepared for the growing threat of mosquito- and tick-borne viruses

The Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, known as Asian tiger mosquitoes, carrying diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, entered the U.S. in the 1970s and ’80s through the used tire trade. Globalization and climate change have facilitated the wider spread of disease-carrying insects worldwide. Experts at a National Academies workshop warned that the U.S. is ill-prepared for the increasing threat of mosquito- and tick-borne viruses. The workshop emphasized the need for proactive measures, including improved mosquito control, surveillance programs, and infrastructure maintenance to combat the expanding range of tropical diseases. Tropical diseases once considered distant are emerging locally in the U.S., with cases of malaria and tropical parasite-related skin diseases reported, and must be taken seriously by the U.S. if they are to efficiently deal with the issue (which is being expedited by global warming). To read the full article, click here. To read more about policy, click here.