University of Florida study finds dengue mosquitoes in residential yards

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 10:31 · Archive

A University of Florida study found Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can transmit dengue, were more common than expected in residential yards in Indian River County.

A University of Florida study found that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can transmit dengue, were more common than expected in residential yards in Indian River County. The finding does not indicate that dengue is circulating in the county, but highlights how people may encounter mosquitoes capable of carrying disease during everyday activities close to home, including dog walking and gardening.

Researchers at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences' Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory used a smartphone app called Bite Diary to record when and where people were bitten. Eighty-three people participated, with 71 using the app to record bites and outdoor activities over four days. Researchers also trapped mosquitoes in 78 yards, collecting 3,788 female mosquitoes from several species.

Researchers had expected to find more Aedes albopictus, another dengue-transmitting mosquito species, because of the area's vegetation and residential setting. "It was definitely surprising to find that we saw more Aedes aegypti," said Panpim Thongsripong, an assistant professor of vector-borne disease ecology at the lab. The study suggests that residential yards can help researchers understand where people may encounter disease-carrying mosquitoes.

How it is being reported

• Mosquito research yields ‘unexpected discovery’ in Florida backyardsA new study from the University of Florida has been released, exposing where many mosquito bites may be happening.Clickorlando · 9 Oct, 10:00
• UF study finds dengue-carrying mosquitoes in residential yardsA University of Florida study found that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can transmit dengue, were more common than researchers expected in residential yards in Indian River County.News4Jax · 7 Oct, 18:52

In this story: University of Florida · Indian River County · Panpim Thongsripong

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