Aedes aegypti in Tucson, Arizona

摘要

To the Editor: The highly domestic mosquito species Aedes aegypti, a tropical, nonnative vector of dengue and yellow fever, has been identified in several desert communities, including the city of Tucson and the border towns of Douglas, Naco, and Nogales (1). Ae. aegypti has now been found in the southern Arizona communities of Benson and Sahuarita Heights, which indicates that its distribution is probably expanding. Moreover, mosquito surveillance indicating that Ae. aegypti populations in Tucson are established throughout the city supports local concerns that the mosquito poses a public health risk in Arizona?s second largest metropolitan area. Since it was first detected in 1994 on Tucson?s west side, the mosquito has been found in the central downtown and university districts, northern foothills, and the east and south sides (both in residential areas, including schools and parks, and in business districts). Between 1995 and 1997, almost 200 adult Ae. aegypti (female and male) were recovered in CDC CO2 traps from 26 sites in Tucson by vector biologists from the Arizona Department of Health Services, Pima County, and the University of Arizona Veterinary Science Department.