Impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Aedes aegypti Populations, Aquatic Habitats, and Mosquito Infections with Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika Viruses in Puerto Rico

Abstract

. Puerto Rico was severely impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. The island has been endemic for dengue viruses (DENV) and recently suffered epidemics of chikungunya (CHIKV 2014) and Zika (ZIKV 2016) viruses. Although severe storms tend to increase the number of vector and nuisance mosquitoes, we do not know how they influence Aedes aegypti populations and arboviral transmission. We compared the abundance of female Ae. aegypti in autocidal gravid ovitraps (AGO traps), container habitats, and presence of RNA of DENV, CHIKV, and ZIKV in this vector before and after the hurricanes in Caguas city and in four communities in southern Puerto Rico. Two of these communities were under vector control using mass AGO trapping and the other two nearby communities were not. We also investigated mosquito species composition and relative abundance (females/trap) using Biogents traps (BG-2 traps) in 59 sites in metropolitan San Juan city after the hurricanes. Mosquitoes sharply increased 5 weeks after Hurricane Maria. Ensuing abundance of Ae. aegypti was higher in Caguas and in one of the southern communities without vector control. Aedes aegypti did not significantly change in the two areas with vector control. The most abundant mosquitoes among the 26 species identified in San Juan were Culex ( Melanoconion ) spp., Culex quinquefasciatus , Culex nigripalpus , and Ae. aegypti . No arboviruses were detected in Ae. aegypti following the hurricanes, in contrast with observations from the previous year, so that the potential for Aedes -borne arboviral outbreaks following the storms in 2017 was low.

The Impact of Hurricane Irma on Our Community and the Collier Mosquito Control District's Mission

“…the operational logistics noted above prevented the District from collecting more comprehensive landing rate and trap data; therefore we cannot be certain which of these factors was most significant. However, similar results were observed after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico with no significant difference in mosquito captures in comparison with those in the previous years (Barrera et al 2019). Another study following Hurricane Katrina suggests that outdoor cleanup and reconstruction activity after hurricanes may lead to increased exposure to mosquito populations (Caillouet et al 2008).…”

Role of Abandoned and Vacant Houses on Aedes aegypti Productivity

“…aegypti populations were observed five weeks after the initial impact, but mosquito abundance returned to pre-hurricane levels three months later. 30 Limited circulation of arboviruses before the hurricanes was consistent with lack of circulation afterward, despite elevated Ae. aegypti populations.…”

Preparations and Activities Necessary for Aerial Mosquito Control After Hurricanes

“…Mosquito populations can be diverse in the wake of a hurricane or a large-scale flood event (Barrera et al 2019). For the hurricane response deployments in 2017 and 2018, VDCI conducted landing rate counts (Schmidt 1989) and used standard CDC miniature light traps (Model 512; John W. Hock Company, Gainesville, FL) baited with approximately 1.4 kg (3 lb) of dry ice, suspended in a 1-gallon Coleman drink cooler, powered with a rechargeable, sealed, gelledelectrolyte 6-V battery.…”