An invasive mosquito species capable of spreading dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika has been detected in San Jose, California, according to an announcement by local health authorities on October 24. It is the first appearance of Aedes aegypti in the Bay Area.
The species, originally from Africa, was first identified in California in 2013 and has now spread across 27 counties. Experts believe its rapid expansion is linked to rising temperatures and growing resistance to insecticides.
Authorities have warned residents to eliminate standing water and use repellents, as this mosquito tends to live near houses and bites aggressively during the day.
Mosquito-borne illnesses are on the rise, and they are affecting more and more people in countries across the globe. In the search to understand what may be prompting this troublesome development, scientists are turning their attention to climate change as an important contributing factor. Indeed, rising temperatures, increased flooding, and environmental pollution have all been shown to play a role in the increasing incidence of mosquito-borne illness.
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