Enhanced Surveillance for Aedes Mosquitoes in the Arizona Border Region

In 2014, a dengue outbreak affected northern Mexico and travel-associated dengue cases increased in southern Arizona. While Arizona has not detected a local dengue case, local transmission occurred in Nogales, Sonora, sister city of Nogales, Arizona across the border. The detection of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a dengue and chikungunya vector, and the frequent human movement across the border with Sonora heightens Arizona’s risk for introducing emerging mosquito-borne diseases. Limited data exists on the extent or seasonality of Aedes mosquitoes in Arizona border counties. Mosquito surveillance historically targeted the West Nile Virus vector, and border county health departments serve small populations and have limited resources. Enhancing surveillance for Aedes is critical to inform the prevention of emerging mosquito-borne disease. Arizona seeks interdisciplinary solutions to gather baseline data on Aedes populations – especially in southern counties bordering Mexico – to inform public education and document the state’s risk for dengue and chikungunya transmission.