Could Human Being Eradicate Mosquito-Borne Viral Diseases?
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Published
May 29, 2025
Abstract
Mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and West Nile virus continue to inflict considerable public health challenges globally, particularly in tropical and subtropical climates. These viruses are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, impacting economic development, straining healthcare systems, and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Despite noteworthy advancements in vector control, immunization programs, and emerging genetic tools, the total eradication of these diseases remains elusive. This paper reviews whether human beings can realistically eradicate mosquito-borne viral diseases. It explores the historical context of disease control efforts, current strategies, novel technologies, environmental and biological challenges, socioeconomic and political dimensions, and ethical and ecological considerations. While complete global eradication is currently implausible due to various constraints, regional elimination and significant reduction in disease burden are achievable through integrated, multidisciplinary, and sustained efforts.
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Keywords
Mosquito-Borne Diseases, Viruses, Eradication, Global Control, Sustainability
Supporting Agencies
No funding source declared.
References
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Caplan, A., & Mamo, N. (2024). The challenging concept of eradication: A core concept guiding and frustrating public health. Can J Public Health. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-024-00947-w
Carvalho, F. D., & Moreira, L. A. (2017). Why is Aedes aegypti Linnaeus so Successful as a Species? Neotropical Entomology, 46(3), 243–255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-017-0520-4
Chotun, N., Eaton, J., Anagbogu, I. A., Tesfahunei, H. A., Shawa, S., Karutu, C., Bolarinwa, A., & Mohammed, A. (2024). Sustaining success through strategies for post-elimination management of neglected tropical diseases in African Union Member States. Frontiers in Tropical Diseases, 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2024.1421522
De Gaetano, S., Ponzo, E., Midiri, A., Mancuso, G., Filippone, D., Infortuna, G., Zummo, S., & Biondo, C. (2025). Global Trends and Action Items for the Prevention and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases. Hygiene, 5(2), 18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene5020018
De Souza, W. M., Fumagalli, M. J., De Lima, S. T. S., Parise, P. L., Carvalho, D. C. M., Hernandez, C., De Jesus, R., Delafiori, J., Candido, D. S., Carregari, V. C., Muraro, S. P., Souza, G. F., Mello, L. M. S., Claro, I. M., Díaz, Y., Kato, R. B., Trentin, L. N., Costa, C. H. S., Maximo, A. C. B. M., . . . Weaver, S. C. (2024). Pathophysiology of chikungunya virus infection associated with fatal outcomes. Cell Host & Microbe, 32(4), 606-622.e8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2024.02.011
Dong, X., & Soong, L. (2021). Emerging and Re-emerging Zoonoses are Major and Global Challenges for Public Health. Zoonoses, 1(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15212/zoonoses-2021-0001
Ebi, K. L., & Hess, J. J. (2020). Health risks due to climate change: Inequity in causes and consequences. Health Affairs, 39(12), 2056–2062. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01125
Fang, J. (2010). Ecology: A world without mosquitoes. Nature, 466(7305), 432–434. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/466432a
Fatima, M., An, T., Park, P., & Hong, K. (2025). Advancements and Challenges in Addressing Zoonotic Viral Infections with Epidemic and Pandemic Threats. Viruses, 17(3), 352. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030352
González, E., Anderson, M. a. E., Ang, J. X. D., Nevard, K., Shackleford, L., Larrosa-Godall, M., Leftwich, P. T., & Alphey, L. (2025). Optimization of SgRNA expression with RNA pol III regulatory elements in Anopheles stephensi. Scientific Reports, 15(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98557-0
Guruprasad, N. M., Jalali, S. K., & Puttaraju, H. P. (2013). Wolbachia-a foe for mosquitoes. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, 4(1), 78–81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2222-1808(14)60319-4
Hancock, P. A., Ochomo, E., & Messenger, L. A. (2024). Genetic surveillance of insecticide resistance in African Anopheles populations to inform malaria vector control. Trends in Parasitology, 40(7), 604–618. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.016
Krishnappa, L., Gadicherla, S., Chalageri, V. H., & Jacob, A. M. (2022). Impact of School-Based Health Education on Dengue Prevention and Control in an Urban Area during an Epidemic. Medical Journal of Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, 16(Suppl 1), S10–S14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_875_21
Kumar, G., Baharia, R., Singh, K., Gupta, S. K., Joy, S., Sharma, A., & Rahi, M. (2024). Addressing challenges in vector control: a review of current strategies and the imperative for novel tools in India’s combat against vector-borne diseases. BMJ Public Health, 2(1), e000342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2023-000342
Leftwich, P. T., Edgington, M. P., Harvey-Samuel, T., Paladino, L. Z. C., Norman, V. C., & Alphey, L. (2018). Recent advances in threshold-dependent gene drives for mosquitoes. Biochemical Society Transactions, 46(5), 1203–1212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst20180076
Lobo, N. F., Achee, N. L., Greico, J., & Collins, F. H. (2017). Modern Vector Control. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 8(1), a025643. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a025643
Macnish, K., & Van Der Ham, J. (2020). Ethics in cybersecurity research and practice. Technology in Society, 63, 101382. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101382
Mäkelin, M. (2024). Between the lab and the Wild: Establishing the Potential of Gene Drive Mosquitoes for Malaria Control. Science as Culture, 33(4), 491–510. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09505431.2024.2325982
Moi, M. L., Takasaki, T., & Kurane, I. (2016). Human antibody response to dengue virus: implications for dengue vaccine design. Tropical Medicine and Health, 44(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-016-0004-y
Montgomery, M. J., Harwood, J. F., Yougang, A. P., Wilson-Bahun, T. A., Tedjou, A. N., Keumeni, C. R., Wondji, C. S., Kamgang, B., & Kilpatrick, A. M. (2025). The effects of urbanization, temperature, and rainfall on Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito abundance across a broad latitudinal gradient in Central Africa. Parasites & Vectors, 18(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06764-5
Moreno, R. D., Valera, L., Borgoño, C., Castilla, J. C., & Riveros, J. L. (2024). Gene drives, mosquitoes, and ecosystems: an interdisciplinary approach to emerging ethical concerns. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1254219
Nakase, T., Giovanetti, M., Obolski, U., & Lourenço, J. (2024). Population at risk of dengue virus transmission has increased due to coupled climate factors and population growth. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01639-6
Parvez, M. K., & Parveen, S. (2017). Evolution and emergence of pathogenic viruses: past, present, and future. Intervirology, 60(1–2), 1–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000478729
Scholz, S., Ngoli, B., & Flessa, S. (2015). Rapid assessment of infrastructure of primary health care facilities – a relevant instrument for health care systems management. BMC Health Services Research, 15(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-0838-8
Tajudeen, Y. A., Oladipo, H. J., Oladunjoye, I. O., Oladipo, M. K., Shittu, H. D., Abdulmumeen, I., Afolabi, A. O., & El-Sherbini, M. S. (2023). Transforming malaria prevention and control: the prospects and challenges of gene drive technology for mosquito management. Annals of Medicine, 55(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2024.2302504
Wilson, A. L., Courtenay, O., Kelly-Hope, L. A., Scott, T. W., Takken, W., Torr, S. J., & Lindsay, S. W. (2020). The importance of vector control for the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14(1), e0007831. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007831
Yu, X., & Cheng, G. (2022). Adaptive evolution as a driving force of the emergence and Re-Emergence of Mosquito-Borne viral diseases. Viruses, 14(2), 435. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020435
Zeng, D., Cao, Z., & Neill, D. B. (2020). Artificial intelligence–enabled public health surveillance—from local detection to global epidemic monitoring and control. In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 437–453). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-821259-2.00022-3
Bifani, A. M., Ong, E. Z., & De Alwis, R. (2020). Vaccination and therapeutics: Responding to the changing epidemiology of yellow fever. Current Treatment Options in Infectious Diseases/Current Treatment Options in Infectious Disease, 12(3), 349–360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40506-020-00232-7
Braack, L., Wulandhari, S. A., Chanda, E., Fouque, F., Merle, C. S., Nwangwu, U., Velayudhan, R., Venter, M., Yahouedo, A. G., Lines, J., Aung, P. P., Chan, K., Abeku, T. A., Tibenderana, J., & Clarke, S. E. (2023). Developing African arbovirus networks and capacity strengthening in arbovirus surveillance and response: findings from a virtual workshop. Parasites & Vectors, 16(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05748-7
Branda, F., Scarpa, F., Petrosillo, N., & Ciccozzi, M. (2024). A one health platform for future epidemic preparedness. Infectious Disease Reports, 16(2), 281–288. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16020023
Caplan, A., & Mamo, N. (2024). The challenging concept of eradication: A core concept guiding and frustrating public health. Can J Public Health. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-024-00947-w
Carvalho, F. D., & Moreira, L. A. (2017). Why is Aedes aegypti Linnaeus so Successful as a Species? Neotropical Entomology, 46(3), 243–255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-017-0520-4
Chotun, N., Eaton, J., Anagbogu, I. A., Tesfahunei, H. A., Shawa, S., Karutu, C., Bolarinwa, A., & Mohammed, A. (2024). Sustaining success through strategies for post-elimination management of neglected tropical diseases in African Union Member States. Frontiers in Tropical Diseases, 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2024.1421522
De Gaetano, S., Ponzo, E., Midiri, A., Mancuso, G., Filippone, D., Infortuna, G., Zummo, S., & Biondo, C. (2025). Global Trends and Action Items for the Prevention and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases. Hygiene, 5(2), 18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene5020018
De Souza, W. M., Fumagalli, M. J., De Lima, S. T. S., Parise, P. L., Carvalho, D. C. M., Hernandez, C., De Jesus, R., Delafiori, J., Candido, D. S., Carregari, V. C., Muraro, S. P., Souza, G. F., Mello, L. M. S., Claro, I. M., Díaz, Y., Kato, R. B., Trentin, L. N., Costa, C. H. S., Maximo, A. C. B. M., . . . Weaver, S. C. (2024). Pathophysiology of chikungunya virus infection associated with fatal outcomes. Cell Host & Microbe, 32(4), 606-622.e8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2024.02.011
Dong, X., & Soong, L. (2021). Emerging and Re-emerging Zoonoses are Major and Global Challenges for Public Health. Zoonoses, 1(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15212/zoonoses-2021-0001
Ebi, K. L., & Hess, J. J. (2020). Health risks due to climate change: Inequity in causes and consequences. Health Affairs, 39(12), 2056–2062. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01125
Fang, J. (2010). Ecology: A world without mosquitoes. Nature, 466(7305), 432–434. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/466432a
Fatima, M., An, T., Park, P., & Hong, K. (2025). Advancements and Challenges in Addressing Zoonotic Viral Infections with Epidemic and Pandemic Threats. Viruses, 17(3), 352. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030352
González, E., Anderson, M. a. E., Ang, J. X. D., Nevard, K., Shackleford, L., Larrosa-Godall, M., Leftwich, P. T., & Alphey, L. (2025). Optimization of SgRNA expression with RNA pol III regulatory elements in Anopheles stephensi. Scientific Reports, 15(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98557-0
Guruprasad, N. M., Jalali, S. K., & Puttaraju, H. P. (2013). Wolbachia-a foe for mosquitoes. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, 4(1), 78–81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2222-1808(14)60319-4
Hancock, P. A., Ochomo, E., & Messenger, L. A. (2024). Genetic surveillance of insecticide resistance in African Anopheles populations to inform malaria vector control. Trends in Parasitology, 40(7), 604–618. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.016
Krishnappa, L., Gadicherla, S., Chalageri, V. H., & Jacob, A. M. (2022). Impact of School-Based Health Education on Dengue Prevention and Control in an Urban Area during an Epidemic. Medical Journal of Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, 16(Suppl 1), S10–S14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_875_21
Kumar, G., Baharia, R., Singh, K., Gupta, S. K., Joy, S., Sharma, A., & Rahi, M. (2024). Addressing challenges in vector control: a review of current strategies and the imperative for novel tools in India’s combat against vector-borne diseases. BMJ Public Health, 2(1), e000342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2023-000342
Leftwich, P. T., Edgington, M. P., Harvey-Samuel, T., Paladino, L. Z. C., Norman, V. C., & Alphey, L. (2018). Recent advances in threshold-dependent gene drives for mosquitoes. Biochemical Society Transactions, 46(5), 1203–1212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst20180076
Lobo, N. F., Achee, N. L., Greico, J., & Collins, F. H. (2017). Modern Vector Control. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 8(1), a025643. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a025643
Macnish, K., & Van Der Ham, J. (2020). Ethics in cybersecurity research and practice. Technology in Society, 63, 101382. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101382
Mäkelin, M. (2024). Between the lab and the Wild: Establishing the Potential of Gene Drive Mosquitoes for Malaria Control. Science as Culture, 33(4), 491–510. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09505431.2024.2325982
Moi, M. L., Takasaki, T., & Kurane, I. (2016). Human antibody response to dengue virus: implications for dengue vaccine design. Tropical Medicine and Health, 44(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-016-0004-y
Montgomery, M. J., Harwood, J. F., Yougang, A. P., Wilson-Bahun, T. A., Tedjou, A. N., Keumeni, C. R., Wondji, C. S., Kamgang, B., & Kilpatrick, A. M. (2025). The effects of urbanization, temperature, and rainfall on Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito abundance across a broad latitudinal gradient in Central Africa. Parasites & Vectors, 18(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06764-5
Moreno, R. D., Valera, L., Borgoño, C., Castilla, J. C., & Riveros, J. L. (2024). Gene drives, mosquitoes, and ecosystems: an interdisciplinary approach to emerging ethical concerns. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1254219
Nakase, T., Giovanetti, M., Obolski, U., & Lourenço, J. (2024). Population at risk of dengue virus transmission has increased due to coupled climate factors and population growth. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01639-6
Parvez, M. K., & Parveen, S. (2017). Evolution and emergence of pathogenic viruses: past, present, and future. Intervirology, 60(1–2), 1–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000478729
Scholz, S., Ngoli, B., & Flessa, S. (2015). Rapid assessment of infrastructure of primary health care facilities – a relevant instrument for health care systems management. BMC Health Services Research, 15(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-0838-8
Tajudeen, Y. A., Oladipo, H. J., Oladunjoye, I. O., Oladipo, M. K., Shittu, H. D., Abdulmumeen, I., Afolabi, A. O., & El-Sherbini, M. S. (2023). Transforming malaria prevention and control: the prospects and challenges of gene drive technology for mosquito management. Annals of Medicine, 55(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2024.2302504
Wilson, A. L., Courtenay, O., Kelly-Hope, L. A., Scott, T. W., Takken, W., Torr, S. J., & Lindsay, S. W. (2020). The importance of vector control for the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14(1), e0007831. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007831
Yu, X., & Cheng, G. (2022). Adaptive evolution as a driving force of the emergence and Re-Emergence of Mosquito-Borne viral diseases. Viruses, 14(2), 435. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020435
Zeng, D., Cao, Z., & Neill, D. B. (2020). Artificial intelligence–enabled public health surveillance—from local detection to global epidemic monitoring and control. In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 437–453). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-821259-2.00022-3
How to Cite
Loveday, N. (2025). Could Human Being Eradicate Mosquito-Borne Viral Diseases?. Science Insights, 46(5), 1827–1832. https://doi.org/10.15354/si.25.re1183
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