Invasive Aedes vittatus mosquitoes in Jamaica: A looming public health concern

Aedes vittatus, an emerging invasive mosquito of significant public health concern has slowly made its way onto the global radar. With a known geographical range in Africa and Asia, where it is a competent vector for several arboviruses, this mosquito has now been reported in the Americas. As the spread of this mosquito has been partly linked to transcontinental trade and travel, Jamaica, the largest English-speaking country in the Caribbean, which serves as a central hub for trade and transport throughout the region has been on alert since its identification in neighbouring Dominican Republic and Cuba. Through ongoing surveillance efforts from January 2023 to October 2024, we report the detection of Ae. vittatus across six locations in four parishes in Jamaica. Both larvae and adults were collected from rural and urban areas in the country. Additionally, we present the first complete annotated mitochondrial genomes of two specimens of this invasive mosquito species. Phylogenetic analysis based on a 539 bp fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene extracted from the derived mitochondrial genomes of Jamaican Ae. vittatus, revealed clustering with specimens from Cuba, India and Nepal. This study highlights the benefits of routine surveillance and the power of molecular approaches to identify invasive species and their potential origins. Author summaryIncreased global movement is facilitating the spread of invasive mosquito species and the pathogens they carry, posing significant public health risks. Jamaica, a popular tourist destination with rising visitor numbers and extensive trade connections, is particularly vulnerable. The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, a vector of numerous viruses to humans, was reported in Jamaica in 2019, highlighting this issue. Another invasive species of concern, Ae. vittatus, primarily found in Asia and Africa, has been detected in nearby Cuba and the Dominican Republic. This raises alarms about the potential for disease outbreaks as Ae. vittatus can also transmit viruses such a dengue and chikungunya. We report the detection of Ae. vittatus in Jamaica in samples collected from January 2023 to October 2024. Its presence in multiple widely distributed locations suggests it may have been in Jamaica undetected for some time. This adaptability of this mosquito to human-inhabited areas increases the risk of pathogen transmission to persons, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced surveillance by the Vector Control program at the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Given its potential to transmit viruses, Ae. vittatus is emerging as a serious public health concern that requires immediate attention and action.