The “Paso del Norte Region” is on the U.S.- Mexico border, at the junction of New Mexico, Texas and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Three cities are established here: El Paso (TX), Las Cruces (NM) and Juarez (Chihuahua), with a combined population of 2 million people. Dengue, an infectious mosquito-borne disease, is moving further north in Mexico and encephalitis viruses are present at the U.S.-Mexico Border. The impact on the United States has been seen by the increased incidence in the border region. Las Cruces and Juarez were without any mosquito surveillance program. The El Paso vector control program has reported mosquitoes infected with arbovirus in recent years. As a result, the health authorities and the academic institutions of El Paso-Las Cruces-Ciudad Juarez started looking at the potential risk for the area. This project mapped mosquito populations in the nearby Paso del Norte region. The study examined the mosquitoes captured and their arbovirus infection status in El Paso County, from July 1995 to October 2000. The mosquito most frequently trapped over the period was Culex tarsalis, a possible vector for Western Equine and St. Louis encephalitis. Both St. Louis and Western Equine encephalitis were identified in mosquitoes during this study. Additionally, Aedes aegypti, the vector for Dengue Fever, has also been identified. The mosquito’s locations, mapped using GIS software, are being used to enhance surveillance thereby protecting the binational community from mosquito-borne diseases. Currently the Border Epidemiology and Environmental Health Center in Las Cruces, is establishing a bi-national surveillance program.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: New Mexico,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Paso del Norte Health Foundation,
Border Epidemiology & Environmental Health Center
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.