The global distribution of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.08347
• Publication Date: 2015-06-30T11:31:32Z
• Authors: Moritz UG Kraemer; Marianne E Sinka; Kirsten A Duda; Adrian QN Mylne; Freya M Shearer; Christopher M Barker; Chester G Moore; Roberta G Carvalho; Giovanini E Coelho; Wim Van Bortel; Guy Hendrickx; Francis Schaffner; Iqbal RF Elyazar; Hwa-Jen Teng; Oliver J Brady; Jane P Messina; David M Pigott; Thomas W Scott; David L Smith; GR William Wint; Nick Golding; Simon I Hay
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Biomedical and clinical sciences; 550; QH301-705.5; Science; Clinical Sciences; 590; global health; Arbovirus Infections; Global Health; 03 medical and health sciences; Rare Diseases; Aedes; Biodefense; Animals; Humans; Ae. albopictus; Biology (General); Ae. aegypti; 3.2 Interventions to alter physical and biological environmental risks; Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Ecology; Q; R; Health sciences; Biological Sciences; Insect Vectors; 3. Good health; Vector-Borne Diseases; Biological sciences; Phylogeography; Emerging Infectious Diseases; Infectious Diseases; Good Health and Well Being; Medicine; epidemiology; Biochemistry and Cell Biology; ecology

Dengue and chikungunya are increasing global public health concerns due to their rapid geographical spread and increasing disease burden. Knowledge of the contemporary distribution of their shared vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus remains incomplete and is complicated by an ongoing range expansion fuelled by increased global trade and travel. Mapping the global distribution of these vectors and the geographical determinants of their ranges is essential for public health planning. Here we compile the largest contemporary database for both species and pair it with relevant environmental variables predicting their global distribution. We show Aedes distributions to be the widest ever recorded; now extensive in all continents, including North America and Europe. These maps will help define the spatial limits of current autochthonous transmission of dengue and chikungunya viruses. It is only with this kind of rigorous entomological baseline that we can hope to project future health impacts of these viruses.