Climate and Sustainability: the Challenge for Mosquito-Disease Control

Mark Clifton, Ph.D., Executive Director, North Shore Mosquito Abatement District

Climate change is widely expected to increase the range and distribution of mosquito and tick vectors of disease as well as the viruses they carry with serious implications for the future of public health. Against this backdrop, the catalogue of materials capable of controlling mosquitoes is rapidly dwindling due to overuse, resistance, and regulatory pressure.  The demand for ecological sustainability, the protection of endangered species, and conservation adds another layer of complexity to the challenge of protecting the public health from a rising tide of threats. The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District in Northfield, Illinois has been adapting the last 8 years to meet the present and future needs of our residents. By merging GIS digital technologies with mosquito-specific larval control, investing in key research, and collaborating with scientists in the Midwest region the NSMAD has created an effective, sustainable, and ecologically sound model for mosquito control that can meet the demands of the future.

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