Mosquitoes are a growing public health threat, reversing years of progress

Don't miss this compelling global health series by The New York Times: The fight against mosquitos has never been more urgent as climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have thwarted efforts to combat devastating diseases like malaria and dengue. Scientists are innovating, reports Stephanie Nolen, pursuing new strategies to protect public health.

Nolen traveled to five countries in Africa and Latin America to cover multiple aspects of this growing global challenge:

Mosquitoes are a growing public health threat, reversing years of progress

Climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have helped drive up malaria deaths and brought dengue and other mosquito-borne viruses to places that never had to worry about them.

An invasive mosquito threatens catastrophe in Africa

A malaria-carrying species that thrives in urban areas and resists all insecticides is causing outbreaks in places that have rarely faced the disease.

The gamble: Can genetically-modified mosquitos end disease?

Working on a remote island, scientists think they can use genetic engineering to block a malaria-carrying species of mosquito from spreading the disease — and do it in just a few months. But governments are wary.

One village, two houses and a new tactic to win the war on mosquitos

A different way of thinking about mosquito-borne diseases could save billions of dollars and end them for good, some health experts believe.

Unleashing a new weapon on the mosquito: a mosquito

What if, instead of killing the mosquitoes, you could disarm them? Even if you couldn’t keep them from biting people, what if you could block them from passing on disease? What if you could use one infectious microbe to stop another?

Insecticides can't stop the mosquitos. Now what?

Old weapons like bed nets and insecticides don't work well anymore: Mosquitos have evolved to resist and evade them. The world needs to ways to fight mosquitos.

A semi truck hauling a large gas container

Industrial gas giants quietly outpace tech and oil companies in power use and emissions

Companies producing everyday gases like nitrogen and oxygen are among the world’s largest electricity consumers, responsible for 2% of carbon emissions in China and the U.S. Despite their massive climate footprint, firms such as Linde, Air Liquide, and Air Products have largely escaped public scrutiny.

Canadian parliament building with a Canadian flag waving above it on a dark night

How Carney’s first budget impacts the environment

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget scales back rules around greenwashing, and hints an oil and gas emissions cap is unlikely. But it introduces a youth climate corps and renews efforts to lift boil-water advisories

A solar panel at sunset with wind turbines in the distance

$10 trillion in green investments counter Trump’s climate backlash

The landmark Paris Agreement triggered a wave of climate commitments. A decade later, Bloomberg examined seven key categories to chart progress amid a new era of attacks on global warming science and action.
man wearing black t-shirt close-up photography raising his hand in a college classroom

Climate change ‘is the new liberal arts’: Colleges build environmental lessons into degrees

The University of California, San Diego, is among a growing number of colleges requiring all undergraduates to take courses on climate change, reflecting a shift in higher education toward preparing students in every field to understand and respond to the global climate crisis.

The tip of a spit of land with aqua water surrounding it

Ethanol plant spills harmful wastewater into Philippine marine reserve

A collapsed wastewater pond at a Philippine ethanol distillery released millions of gallons of chemical-laden water into Bais Bay, endangering marine life in the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape and disrupting livelihoods across nearby fishing communities.

Typhoon victims wade through floodwaters in storm aftermath
Credit: Photo by Misbahul Aulia on Unsplash

Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves dozens dead in central Philippines

Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 66 people dead and 26 missing in the central Philippines. Many were trapped on roofs or swept away by floods in Cebu, which was hit hard on Tuesday.
Ships in port with refinery and pollution-belching smokestack in background
Credit: Photo by Chris LeBoutillier on Unsplash

The global race to slash emissions — in nine charts

The pressure is on for leaders attending the 30th UN Climate Change Conference to prevent global warming from accelerating further. Where are countries making strides?
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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