Mosquitoes and Public Health

Four counties near Williamsburg (Henrico, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and York) are working with CGA research students to determine where mosquitoes who have tested positive for West Nile virus are located. Students work on transforming tabular data on the location of mosquito traps and number of mosquitoes caught that have tested positive for West Nile virus to geospatial datasets, maps, and other visualizations. These products help the counties with data organization and accessible display as well as better understanding the conditions that allow for proliferation of West Nile virus.

Our student researchers had the opportunity to meet with Biologist Janice Pulver from York County Mosquito Control and Stormwater Maintenance to learn about their day to day work, mosquito biology, and trapping methods.