Publications by authors named "Megan Lindsay Fritz"
Article Synopsis
- Mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus are increasing in North America, and accurately modeling mosquito population density remains a significant challenge, crucial for predicting disease transmission risks.
- A new weather-driven Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) model has been developed to study mosquito population biology, incorporating factors like temperature, daylight, competition, and aquatic habitats.
- The model also evaluates the impact of precipitation on mosquito mortality and assesses the effectiveness of various insecticide strategies to help reduce mosquito populations and mitigate disease risks.
Article Synopsis
- West Nile virus (WNV) shows significant variation in transmission patterns across the U.S., particularly in regions like Chicago, where case incidence fluctuates yearly due to environmental and ecological factors.
- The study develops a weather-driven ordinary differential equation (ODE) model focused on the Culex pipiens mosquito species and its interactions with avian and human hosts to understand WNV transmission dynamics and predict outbreak conditions.
- Key findings reveal that factors like the feeding preferences of Culex pipiens and the ongoing introduction of infected hosts significantly influence WNV prevalence and the effectiveness of control measures like adulticide treatments.
