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Local Economic Conditions Affect Aedes albopictus Management
Jacopo Cerri1, Chiara Sciandra2, Tania Contardo3
1Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italy. jcerri@uniss.it.
Ecohealth
|April 24, 2024
Summary
Municipalities with more resources and favorable environmental conditions are more likely to manage invasive mosquitoes like Aedes albopictus. Economic disparities hinder effective mosquito control, impacting public health and environmental justice.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Vector-borne Disease Ecology
Background:
- Invasive mosquitoes, such as Aedes albopictus, pose significant public health risks due to their role as vectors for various pathogens.
- Effective management strategies are crucial to mitigate the impact of invasive mosquito populations on human health and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of environmental and socio-economic factors on municipal engagement in controlling Aedes albopictus in Italy.
- To identify key drivers that predict the implementation of mosquito control measures by local governments.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive analysis of 7,679 Italian municipalities between 2000 and 2020.
- Data on mosquito control actions were gathered from official documents and municipal websites.
- The random forest algorithm was employed to model the impact of environmental and socio-economic variables on mosquito management.
Main Results:
- Municipalities characterized by higher urbanization, lowland locations, and extended infestation periods showed increased engagement in Aedes albopictus management.
- Higher median income, indicating greater economic resources, was associated with more predictive management strategies.
- Only 25.5% of Italian municipalities had regulations for Aedes albopictus control, with a notable underrepresentation in Southern Italy's deprived areas.
Conclusions:
- Local economic conditions significantly moderate the effectiveness of other factors driving invasive mosquito control efforts.
- Economic inequalities can undermine large-scale invasive species management policies, raising concerns for environmental and climate justice.
