At Vox’s climate desk, we’ve spent the past few months digging into a threat that’s easy to swat away in the moment — but increasingly harder to escape: the rise of mosquito and other vector-borne diseases in the United States.
Most of us think of mosquitoes as little more than a summer nuisance. But climate change, urban sprawl, and global travel are reshaping their reach — and the range of the diseases they carry. Already, West Nile is entrenched across much of the country. Dengue, chikungunya, and even malaria are beginning to take root again. And now, another menace may be on the way: The Oropouche virus, once confined to the Amazon, is spreading in cities across South America and has already appeared in travelers returning to the US.
Our climate correspondent Umair Irfan has been tracing this shift from multiple angles. His field reporting from Texas, where researchers are running one of the country’s most advanced mosquito surveillance systems, shows how close we are to outbreaks slipping past our defenses. His reporting also highlights how fragile US public health capacity has become, just as the risks are accelerating. To help readers understand these threats, he’s also built a practical guide: how to identify the seven mosquito species that matter most for disease in the US.
Taken together, these stories are far more than just a climate or a science story; they capture the bigger picture of a major public health threat that intersects with the lives of people across the country. Whether you live in Houston or Boston, what’s happening in the world of vector-borne disease will shape your summers, your neighborhoods, and your health.
You can find all of our stories below, but I recommend you start with our illustrated guide to the seven most dangerous mosquitoes in the US. Because what used to be called “tropical disease” is no longer all that tropical, and it’s important for all of us to stay vigilant. —Paige Vega, climate editor
This small Texas city is leading the country’s response in fighting the rising threat of vector-borne diseases.
There are more than 200 mosquito species in the country — but just a few to worry about.
While the rest of the country turned a blind eye to ancient disease threats, these scientists leaned in.
Beware of the biting midge.
