Mosquitoes are a growing public health threat, reversing years of progress

Don't miss this compelling global health series by The New York Times: The fight against mosquitos has never been more urgent as climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have thwarted efforts to combat devastating diseases like malaria and dengue. Scientists are innovating, reports Stephanie Nolen, pursuing new strategies to protect public health.

Nolen traveled to five countries in Africa and Latin America to cover multiple aspects of this growing global challenge:

Mosquitoes are a growing public health threat, reversing years of progress

Climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have helped drive up malaria deaths and brought dengue and other mosquito-borne viruses to places that never had to worry about them.

An invasive mosquito threatens catastrophe in Africa

A malaria-carrying species that thrives in urban areas and resists all insecticides is causing outbreaks in places that have rarely faced the disease.

The gamble: Can genetically-modified mosquitos end disease?

Working on a remote island, scientists think they can use genetic engineering to block a malaria-carrying species of mosquito from spreading the disease — and do it in just a few months. But governments are wary.

One village, two houses and a new tactic to win the war on mosquitos

A different way of thinking about mosquito-borne diseases could save billions of dollars and end them for good, some health experts believe.

Unleashing a new weapon on the mosquito: a mosquito

What if, instead of killing the mosquitoes, you could disarm them? Even if you couldn’t keep them from biting people, what if you could block them from passing on disease? What if you could use one infectious microbe to stop another?

Insecticides can't stop the mosquitos. Now what?

Old weapons like bed nets and insecticides don't work well anymore: Mosquitos have evolved to resist and evade them. The world needs to ways to fight mosquitos.

A person holding a yellow inhaler

Greener inhaler use cuts carbon emissions across OUH

A shift towards lower‑carbon inhalers has helped cut carbon emissions at Oxford University Hospitals, supporting the ambition to reach net zero and reducing the environmental impact of care.

A health care professional wearing scrubs and a stethoscope leaning over an older patient in a bed

Climate change as a healthcare issue: Implications for physicians and practice leaders

Because the topic of climate change is often politicized, practice leaders may be tempted to avoid it, limiting meaningful engagement from clinicians and healthcare leaders.

Three women sitting under an umbrella in a European city

What is an urban heat island? Here's why cities are so much hotter than the countryside

Ever noticed that it tends to be far hotter in cities than the countryside? This is because of the urban ‘heat island’ effect.

A man and woman riding on a motorcycle on a city street

Undercover investigation reveals Europe-wide motorcycle emissions ‘scam’

Austrian motorcycle giant KTM is systematically bypassing laws designed to limit pollution and noise.

A view of a dam with a reservoir in the background

Cool water releases protect fish but reduce hydropower production

Federal officials are considering cool water releases for the third consecutive year at Glen Canyon Dam in Northern Arizona this summer to safeguard the humpback chub, a federally protected fish.
A view of solar panels with snow-covered hills behind them

Solar power expected to soon be cheaper than natural gas power in Anchorage

Because gas prices are expected to rise in coming years, a new solar project in Anchorage is poised to become cheaper than power generated by imported natural gas.

A gloved hand holding a petri dish

Our warming planet is a petri dish for new and deadly microbes

As rising temperatures reshape ecosystems around the world, scientists are warning that bacteria, fungi, and other microbes are adapting in ways that could threaten human health.

From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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