Science Source

Past and future spread of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

States that the global population at risk from mosquito-borne diseases—including dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika—is expanding in concert with changes in the distribution of two key vectors: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
States that the distribution of these species is largely driven by both human movement and the presence of suitable climate
Uses statistical mapping techniques to show that human movement patterns explain the spread of both species in Europe and the United States following their introduction
Finds that the spread of Ae. aegypti is characterized by long distance importations, while Ae. albopictus has expanded more along the fringes of its distribution
Describes these processes and predict the future distributions of both species in response to accelerating urbanization, connectivity and climate change