Drought Shrinks US Mosquito Numbers, But West Nile Risk Remains High

Mosquito counts have declined by up to 50–70% in parts of the Western and Midwest U.S. due to a historic drought, yet West Nile virus cases are at a 22-year high. Scientists warn that drought can concentrate remaining mosquitoes and birds around shrinking water sources, potentially increasing transmission even as overall mosquito populations collapse, and note that populations may rebound with changing climate and rainfall patterns.