Addressing the risk of mosquito-borne disease within the framework of ecological degradation in the Great Lakes
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Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) for the Great Lakes Areas of Concern were first developed in 1987 to address water quality issues, and some BUIs can also influence the risk of mosquito-borne disease. For example, the degradation of fish populations in the Great Lakes can potentially lead to higher populations of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which are primarily responsible for transmitting West Nile virus to humans. Furthermore, the degradation of aesthetics, particularly higher amounts of beach litter, is likely to boost the number of breeding sites available to invasive container-breeding mosquitoes that are capable of transmitting dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya to humans. The predicted impacts of climate change increase the urgency of mosquito-borne disease concerns in regions surrounding the Great Lakes. The incidence of human West Nile virus cases is known to increase under drought conditions, which are more likely to occur in future decades due to climate change, and predicted changes in the geographic areas that are suitable for mosquitoes suggest that northward expansion of invasive disease vectors will eventually include regions that border the Great Lakes. In this perspective piece, we aim to demonstrate links between ecological degradation and mosquito-borne disease, and thus highlight additional public health advantages that can result from closely monitoring ecological health in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
This abstract does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.