Anticipating range shifts in mosquito-borne arboviruses

Dengue and chikungunya are mosquito-borne viral infections that have become increasingly widespread public health threats over the past 50 years. Using GBIF-mediated records to remove sampling bias, this study updated known and predicted distributions of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, the species most responsible for transmitting arboviruses to humans. By showing that both now inhabit all continents—and may yet have room to expand their ranges further, particularly Ae. albopictus—these findings provide a baseline understanding of the factors in their geographical spread and health-planning measures that might help control it.