At Vox’s climate desk, we’ve been digging out the threats that are easy to hit right now — but it’s increasingly hard to escape: the rise of mosquitoes and other vectors in the United States.
Most of us think that mosquitoes are nothing more than summer nuisance. But climate change, urban sprawl and global travel are reshaping its impact, and the scope of disease they bring. The West Nile has become deeply rooted in most parts of the country. Dengue, Chikungunya and even malaria have begun to take root. Now, another threat may be happening: Oropouche virusonce confined to the Amazon, spreads among cities across South America and has appeared among travelers returning to the United States.
Our climate correspondent Umair Irfan This transformation has been tracked from multiple angles. He reported on the field from Texas that researchers are running one of the country’s most advanced mosquito surveillance systems, which shows how close we are to outbreaks beyond defense. His report also highlights how fragile public health capacity in the United States has become, just as risks are accelerating. To help readers understand these threats, he also established a practical guide: How to identify the seven most important mosquito species in the United States.
To sum up, these stories are more than just climate or science stories. They captured a larger picture of the major public health threat that intersects the lives of the people across the country. Whether you live in Houston or Boston, what happens in the world of vector-borne disease will affect your summer, community, and health.
You can find all our stories below, but I suggest you from Our Illustration Guide Seven of the most dangerous mosquitoes to the United States. Because what used to be called “tropical disease” is no longer tropical, it is important for us all to be alert. –Paige Vega, climate editing
The small Texas city is leading the country’s response to the growing threat of vector-borne disease.
There are more than 200 species of mosquito in the country, but you just need to worry about it.
Although the rest of the country turned a blind eye to the threat of ancient diseases, these scientists tended to come in.
Beware of the biting Midge.
