Assessing the risk of exposure to dengue in the Lower Rio Grande Valley

Dengue virus is a disease transmitted by multiple mosquito vectors, including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These two species are found in the lower Rio Grande Valley, a subtropical desert habitat that borders Mexico. Despite similar environments and habitats, northern Mexico has a greater prevalence of dengue than the lower Rio Grande Valley. Our research examined one potential explanation for this disparity, a difference in the risk of exposure to the virus by the human populations. We collected weekly samples of container breeding mosquitoes using oviposition traps in a range of sites throughout Hidalgo County in the lower Rio Grande Valley, including both urban and rural areas. Results of the study will describe the abundance of Aedes within the different sites. In addition, we conducted human surveys in areas with a high density of mosquitoes to assess the potential risk of exposure by the human population. These areas potentially hold a greater risk for the inhabitants that live or work nearby. A risk map depicting the areas at high risk for dengue vectors will be created with the information acquired from the study. This preliminary study focused on assessing the risk in the lower Rio Grande Valley, future research will be conducted in northern Mexico to obtain similar risk assessments.