Colorado State University, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, and Servicios de Salud de Yucatan conducted a study from October 2008 to December 2009 to determine the abundance of Aedes aegypti and presence of dengue virus (DENV) in female mosquitoes in schools in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. We examined 24 schools for presence of Ae. aegypti with backpack aspiration. This included 5 kindergartens, 14 elementary schools, 2 junior high schools, 2 high schools and 1 college.

aNumbers of schools sampled were 21 in October 2008, 21 in December 2008, and 24 in November-December 2009.

The figure shows the percentages of Ae. aegypti females or males collected from different environments in Merida schools during 2008-2009. Numbers above the bars indicate the total number collected by sex and environment.

Data are based on 18 schools that were examined for all three time periods during 2008-2009. aMinimum infection rate per 100 females based on the assumption of a single infected female per infected pool. bBias-corrected maximum likelihood estimate for infection rate per 100 females (95% Confidence Interval).

Our study demonstrated that students, teachers, and other personnel in the schools are at risk for exposure to human-biting mosquitoes, especially Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, as well as to bites by DENV-infected Ae. aegypti females.

Adapted from Garcia–Rejon et al. 2011. Mosquito infestation and dengue virus infection in Aedes aegypti females in schools in Merida, Mexico. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 84: 489-496.