Aug. 20 is World Mosquito Day, a date that marks Sir Ronald Ross’ groundbreaking discovery in 1897 that mosquitoes unfold malaria.
Globally, the day is a reminder of the lethal function mosquitoes play in human historical past and public well being. Right here in Florida, and particularly within the Keys, it’s additionally a possibility to mirror on how deeply mosquitoes have an effect on not simply our well being, however the environment, financial system and lifestyle.
Few locations in the US face a mosquito problem as persistent because the Keys. Our heat, tropical local weather, lush vegetation and year-round humidity create the right breeding floor for dozens of mosquito species. Amongst them, Aedes aegypti is the range that deserves essentially the most consideration.
This small, striped mosquito could not seem like a lot to the bare eye, however it’s at all times able to spreading a few of the world’s most regarding illnesses, together with dengue fever, Zika virus, chikungunya and yellow fever.
For a group that relies on tourism and loves out of doors residing, mosquitoes aren’t only a nuisance — they’re a menace to our well being and to our financial system. Guests don’t come right here to repeatedly swat mosquitoes on their holidays, and residents don’t need to fear about viruses in their very own backyards. That’s why controlling these pests is about greater than consolation; it’s about preserving individuals secure and preserving the Keys livable.
The stakes are extraordinarily excessive.
Even in 2025, mosquitoes stay the deadliest animals on Earth, liable for greater than 700,000 human deaths yearly.
Whereas malaria just isn’t a menace in the US at present, mosquito-borne viruses are a really actual concern in South Florida. Native outbreaks of dengue and Zika have already occurred in recent times, and the dangers proceed to develop. Rising temperatures are increasing mosquito habitats, city progress is creating extra breeding websites, and international journey makes it simpler than ever for viruses to unfold rapidly throughout continents.
We don’t need to look far for proof. Proper now, China is grappling with its worst chikungunya outbreak on file, with greater than 7,000 circumstances.
Authorities there have scrambled to reply utilizing drones, mosquito-eating fish and even lockdown-style restrictions to gradual the outbreak. In response, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) issued a Stage 2 journey discover, urging vacationers to take enhanced precautions, similar to utilizing repellents, carrying lengthy sleeves and pants, making certain sleeping areas are mosquito-proof, and contemplating vaccination when applicable.
It’s necessary to notice that chikungunya hasn’t been unfold regionally in the US since 2019. The handful of U.S. circumstances reported annually are virtually all travel-related. However outbreaks overseas are a reminder of how rapidly mosquito-borne sicknesses can resurface if our vigilance lapses. Vacationers returning house can carry the virus, and with the precise situations, native mosquitoes might unfold it additional.
That’s why on World Mosquito Day, we must always acknowledge mosquito management for what it actually is: a public well being necessity.
It’s not nearly fewer bites at a barbecue. It’s about stopping harmful viruses from gaining a foothold in our communities. As local weather change reshapes mosquito habitats and raises the percentages of recent illnesses spreading northward, the work being finished within the Keys usually serves as a mannequin for different areas within the U.S.
On the Florida Keys Mosquito Management District, we take this duty critically. Each day, our group makes use of a mixture of science, expertise and old school laborious work to guard our group. From aerial purposes and floor therapies to organic controls and modern analysis, our method is complete and always evolving. However our success relies on greater than our efforts alone — it additionally requires ongoing public help and group involvement.
On this World Mosquito Day, we must always keep in mind that mosquitoes could be the deadliest animals on Earth, however they don’t have the higher hand!
So long as we keep dedicated, knowledgeable and proactive, we will proceed to maintain our households secure, the environment wholesome, and our financial system sturdy. Right here within the Keys, that combat continues — one mosquito, and one chew, at a time.
Andrea Leal, Government Director, Florida Keys Mosquito Management District
Marathon