Dry Spells Trim Mosquito Numbers but Boost West Nile Risk in the U.S.

A severe US drought has slashed mosquito populations by up to 50–70% in parts of the West and Midwest, yet West Nile virus infections are rising as drought concentrates mosquitoes and the birds that carry the virus around the remaining water sources, increasing transmission risk even with fewer bites; climate trends are extending the transmission season, so officials urge continued precautions and surveillance.