Latest news with #Couper
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Mosquitoes are adapting to warmer environments, risking spread of disease
Mosquitoes are adapting to warmer environments, risking spread of disease This story has been updated to correct the misspelled name of Lisa Couper. Warmer weather is lengthening the mosquito season in the United States, increasing populations of the pests and their ability to transmit diseases like Dengue fever and West Nile virus across the country. Some mosquito species are more adaptable to heat and better suited for dealing with heat waves than other insects. That's according to a recent study by the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health's Environmental Health Sciences Division, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 'The most common prediction of how global change will affect mosquitoes and mosquito-borne disease is that populations will shift to higher altitudes and higher latitudes,' said lead author Lisa Couper in an interview with Berkeley Public Health in February. 'That is assuming mosquitoes won't adapt to heat. But mosquitoes have all sorts of adaptive capabilities,' Couper said. Mosquito-borne illnesses continue to be a threat to millions in the United States. Mosquitoes may be coming to you As temperatures rise in numerous parts of the world, researchers have been fairly convinced that mosquitoes seeking warmer conditions will settle in previously uninhabitable areas. A study published in 2019 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases showed possible migratory routes of disease-spreading mosquitoes shifting north if climate change continues. Maps from the study were based on estimates of future temperatures around the world. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Mosquitoes that spread diseases in the U.S. Most mosquitoes don't carry disease. Those that do are called vectors. Vectors means the insects spread diseases such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya in humans, or heartworm parasites in dogs. The main mosquito species that can carry diseases in the United States are: More: Feds recommend pausing vaccine for mosquito-borne disease chikungunya in people over 60 Hotspots for mosquito populations this year Mosquitoes affect some American cities more than others. Orkin released its 2025 Top 50 Mosquito Cities List that places Los Angeles at the top for the fourth consecutive year. Other cities, including Detroit, Cleveland and Denver, made significant gains into the top 10. Ways to protect yourself from mosquito bites If you expect to be in an area where mosquitoes are, such as a park, lake or campsite, be extra careful when venturing outside. Mosquitoes are most active in the warmer months of March through October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the best way to reduce the risk of infection is to prevent mosquito bites: ◾Use insect repellent, which includes DEET or picaridin. ◾Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. ◾Treat clothing and gear with the insecticide Permethrin. ◾Avoid going outside at dawn and dusk, that's their most active time of day. ◾Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. CONTRIBUTING George Petras, Mike Snider and David Robinson/USA TODAY NETWORK SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UC, Berkeley School of Public Health's Environmental Health Sciences Division, Global expansion and redistribution of Aedes-borne virus transmission risk with climate change study, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, National Public Radio (NPR), Orkin and USA TODAY research
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists make concerning new discovery about disease-bearing mosquitoes: 'We need to keep the foot on the gas'
It was previously thought that mosquitoes would decline in areas with rising temperatures. However, a new study shows that they are adapting. According to The Scientist, disease ecologist Lisa Couper from the University of California, Berkeley, and "her team have found that mosquitoes have the potential to evolve and adapt to higher temperatures on pace with global warming." Couper and her team used a mosquito that was common in the Western United States. This type of mosquito spreads heartworm to dogs. "They collected mosquito larvae from various tree holes in California and let the insects reproduce for two generations in the lab," per The Scientist. Some of the third-generation larvae were exposed to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), while the rest were kept at 22 C (71.6 F). While the mosquitoes exposed to higher temperatures had a significantly lower survival rate, some reached adulthood. They also found that larvae exposed to high heat were smaller, which is consistent with other research showing that animals exposed to high heat in the developmental stage have smaller body sizes. This meant the mosquitoes had a harder time dealing with the heat, which seems like good news. However, the team also studied genetic changes in the mosquitoes that lived to adulthood. According to The Scientist, "Structural changes, including chromosome inversions, where a piece of a chromosome breaks off and reattaches in the reverse orientation, are linked to mosquito climate adaptation." They found many such changes and estimated that the rate at which the mosquitoes would evolve is faster than the rate of rising temperatures. "These predictions are important for researchers to understand how warming reshapes the global map of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and Zika fever," The Scientist noted. Couper said, "[This] really speaks to the fact that we need to keep the foot on the gas in terms of mosquito-borne disease prevention." Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. According to Vector Disease Control International, the West Nile virus and dog heartworm are the most common mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, but dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika have also surfaced as threats to public health. The Pew Charitable Trusts stated that insecticides are the most common way to control mosquito populations. However, Florida has tried another approach: "genetically modified mosquitoes to drive out the disease-carrying insects." The Environmental Protection Agency said the public plays an important role in fighting off mosquitoes. People should remove standing water from around their homes and ensure that window screens and doors are in good condition. They should also wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves and pants, when entering areas with high mosquito populations. More research is needed to understand how mosquitoes are adapting to rising temperatures. You can donate to organizations that support this critical research. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
