The new mosquito bringing disease to North America
BBCThe new mosquito bringing disease to North America Ben Pagac The discovery of a novel mosquito on Guantanamo Bay reveals how globalisation is threatening to unleash the next pandemic. “I knew it was invasive, knew it had not been found in America before it’s a very effective vector of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever.” The mosquito’s discovery raised an important question – could this Guantanamo Bay intruder be the culprit of the recent outbreaks of Zika, dengue, or other mosquito-borne diseases appearing in the Caribbean? Anthony Wallace/Getty Images Humans can unwittingly transport disease-carrying mosquitoes around the globe Linton and Pagac also knew that Aedes vittatus was what entomologists call a “container breeder”. “We put bird baths in our garden, we have small children’s pools, and this is where this mosquito is found.” Making matters worse, Aedes vittatus mosquitoes bite during the day. “These mild winters, the longer seasons that we’re having – that means the mosquitoes have a chance to do 10 generations instead of six,” says Linton.
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