Ten years have gone by since the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus was recorded for the first time in Spain. In this paper, all relevant published information about this vector in Spain for the period 2004–2014 is reviewed. The known distribution for 2014 is provided, including all historical records (published and unpublished data) and the results from samplings of the last year. The consequences on public health about the presence of the Asian tiger mosquito in Spain are also highlighted. Further, legal aspects and control plans related to the management and diseases transmitted by this invasive vector species are also discussed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1262-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

During 2014–2015, a total of 31 deaths were associated with the first chikungunya epidemic in Puerto Rico. We analyzed excess mortality from various causes for the same months during the previous 4 years and detected 1,310 deaths possibly attributable to chikungunya. Our findings raise important questions about increased mortality rates associated with chikungunya.

2 Highlights -Biting nematocerans and mosquitoes showed a clear affinity to specific wavelenghts, being fluorescent light sources more efficient than incandescent and LED lights.-Proven vectors of important economically diseases such as Culicoides obsoletus/C. scoticus are highly attracted to traps fitted with ultraviolete (UV) and green LEDs.-The paper highlighted the potential use of traps equipped with light sources emitting in wavelenghts close to 570 nm (green colour). Wavelengths in green (570 nm) resulted effective for targeting some Culicoides species, culicids and other midges. In a second trial, the effectiveness of 4-watt white and UV tubes was compared to traps fitted with UV LED and a standard incandescent light bulb. More specimens of all taxa were collected with fluorescent black light (UV) traps than with the other light sources, except culicids, which were recovered in high numbers from fluorescent white light traps. ABSTRACT

Primer registro de reproducción al aire libre en Europa del mosquito tigre (Aedes albopictus) Es la primera vez que se registra la continuidad en invierno del ciclo reproductivo de Aedes albopictus en Europa. Se discute sobre el empleo de la variable precipitación en los modelos de riesgo de implantación de mosquito tigre. Pensamos que la disponibilidad local de agua para estos insectos no depende siempre de la lluvia.

This study suggests that chikungunya is an important cause of death (underlying or contributing). It is urgent to review clinical protocols and investigate the causes associated with deaths during chikungunya epidemics.

In some chikungunya epidemics, deaths are not completely captured by traditional surveillance systems, which record case and death reports. We evaluated excess deaths associated with the 2014 chikungunya virus (CHIKV) epidemic in Guadeloupe and Martinique, Antilles. Population (784 097 inhabitants) and mortality data, estimated by sex and age, were accessed from the Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques in France. Epidemiological data, cases, hospitalisations and deaths on CHIKV were obtained from the official epidemiological reports of the Cellule de Institut de Veille Sanitaire in France. Excess deaths were calculated as the difference between the expected and observed deaths for all age groups for each month in 2014 and 2015, considering the upper limit of 99% confidence interval. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a strong correlation between monthly excess deaths and reported cases of chikungunya (R = 0.81, p < 0.005) and with a 1-month lag (R = 0.87, p < 0.001); and a strong correlation was also observed between monthly rates of hospitalisation for CHIKV and excess deaths with a delay of 1 month (R = 0.87, p < 0.0005). The peak of the epidemic occurred in the month with the highest mortality, returning to normal soon after the end of the CHIKV epidemic. There were excess deaths in almost all age groups, and excess mortality rate was higher among the elderly but was similar between male and female individuals. The overall mortality estimated in the current study (639 deaths) was about four times greater than that obtained through death declarations (160 deaths). Although the aetiological diagnosis of all deaths associated with CHIKV infection is not always possible, already well-known statistical tools can contribute to the evaluation of the impact of CHIKV on mortality and morbidity in the different age groups.

Among the emerging infectious diseases, the arboviral diseases group has a significant impact worldwide due to its epidemic potential and unprecedented spread. These diseases, mostly zoonoses, represent a serious public health problem in the Americas and especially in the Caribbean, which have a nearly uninterrupted transmission pattern throughout the year and are becoming an obstacle to economic development. In fact, in recent decades there has been a significant increase in the number of epidemiological outbreaks caused by emerging and reemerging arbovirus in many Caribbean countries, as in the case of Dominican Republic, where the incidence of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and most recently Zika and Mayaro viruses have grown considerably causing great concern in public health. Clearly, other factors such as the lack of sources and proper action plans, among other reasons, have a negative influence in the control of these viruses. The current work aims to provide a picture of the main arboviral diseases spread by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) that affect the Caribbean islands, particularly the island of Hispaniola, the second largest of the Antilles.

Aedes vittatus Bigot is distributed throughout Africa, tropical Asia, and southern Europe and occurs in sylvatic as well as peridomestic environments where it readily feeds on humans. Although the vectorial capacity of Ae. vittatus is not well understood, this species is known to play a role in the maintenance and transmission of yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and dengue virus within its native range. In October 2019, after a routine inspection of mosquito-breeding containers in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, two Ae. vittatus females were captured via human landing catch method. After this finding, a CDC miniature light trap was deployed at the point of initial detection from 18:00 to 08:00 h, 2 d/wk from 3 to 31 October 2019. Potential larval habitats were also sampled via traditional dip method once per week spanning a 150 m radius from point of initial detection. In addition to the 2 adult females, 10 female and 2 male Ae. vittatus were captured. One Ae. vittatus larva also was found in a small puddle formed by an animal hoof print. Conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to confirm morphological identification of collected specimens. This is the first detection of Ae. vittatus in the Dominican Republic as well as the Americas. Therefore, enhanced surveillance is needed to better understand the range and public health risks this potential invasive mosquito species may pose in the Dominican Republic, other Caribbean Islands, and/or the Americas.