Mosquito-borne diseases cause millions of deaths each year. Malaria cases reached 228 million worldwide last year, and dengue infections affected approximately 390 million people annually. Anthropogenic changes in the environment are profoundly affecting overall species biodiversity, leading to species loss and, consequently, an increase in the number of species that can thrive in urban environments.
The increase in insecticide use inevitably leads to excessive exposure to active ingredients and, consequently, to rising levels of insecticide resistance. The rapid development of insecticide resistance in target vectors poses a major obstacle to effective mosquito control in non-target species. From a public health perspective, there is an urgent need to address research evaluating the combined impact of excessive exposure to insecticides and global warming on the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
First, excessive exposure to insecticides and global warming may increase the threat of mosquito vectors invading new areas; subsequently, this could lead to a deterioration in health conditions due to disease transmission. The rise in global average temperatures caused by climate change will enable invasive mosquito vector species to expand their ranges into new areas, putting millions of people at risk.
Second, a warmer climate will provide more favorable conditions for mosquito breeding during the cooler months of the year. If left unaddressed, the alarming rise in insecticide resistance among mosquito vectors, combined with the effects of climate change, will potentially lead to extremely dangerous consequences.