Acadia University asking the public to collect mosquitoes for research

 Acadia University is studying how climate change is affecting mosquito populations in Nova Scotia.

Researchers have been tracking mosquito numbers to determine how warmer weather has influenced them.

Biologist and assistant professor Laura Ferguson told 95.7 NewsRadio how the research is being conducted in the province.

“We have had people out in the field doing their own collections. They go out there every day and all day collecting mosquitoes,” she said. “What we are asking for is some help from the public to actually collect mosquitoes that land on themselves as they walk through the parks.”

Two mosquito sample stations are set up in Wolfville and Kentville.

This is the second year Acadia has held the community participation initiative. Last year, the public submitted hundreds of mosquito samples, providing researchers with a large amount of data.

More information on the study is available at fergusonlab.ca.

Mosquito-born illnesses becoming common

Scientists in British Columbia are studying the impacts of more illnesses from mosquitoes after four people in the province were believed to have been bitten and then developed swelling of the brain.

Dr. Rohit Vijh is a Medical Health Officer with Vancouver Coastal Health and explains that climate change could be a contributing factor.

“The emergence of these mosquito-borne viruses and illness is a reflection of climate change,” Vijh explained.

“Our warming climate results in more mosquitoes being able to breed for longer periods of time.”

He says that it was unusual that four people acquired the infections in one season. They did all recover.