Mosquito-borne illnesses

From pioneering work in the 1950s to ongoing research today, our researchers are fighting diseases carried by the world's deadliest animal: the mosquito.

A light-colored pickup truck drives past green trees while a mounted sprayer in the truck bed releases a fine mist of vector control spray into the air, with a blurry tree trunk in the foreground.

Mosquito-borne illness research

Fighting mosquito borne illnesses

How Notre Dame continued the fight against Zika in South America.

A close up view of a mosquito on a human arm.
Slide image showing a mosquito and red liquid around it on a white background with text overlaid.
Slide graphic showing partial images of mosquitoes on a white background with text overlaid.
Slide graphic showing partial images of mosquitoes on a white background with text overlaid.
Slide graphic showing partial images of mosquitoes on a white background with text overlaid.
A split graphic - at the top a photo of an electric fan placed on a picnic table with a tent in the background and at the bottom - white text on a blue background.
A slide graphic of white text on a blue background.
A split graphic - at the top a photo of of a candle burning in low light on grass in an outdoor setting and at the bottom - white text on a blue background.
A split graphic - at the top a photo of a mosquito coil burning with smoke rising in an outdoor setting and at the bottom - white text on a blue background.
A split graphic - at the top a photo of a torch lit in an outdoor picnic area and at the bottom - white text on a blue background.
A split graphic - at the top a photo of a mother spraying a child with a mist of insect repellant and at the bottom white text on a blue background.
A split graphic - at the top a photo of blades of long grass and at the bottom, white text on a blue background.
A split graphic - at the top a photo of an electric fan placed on a picnic table with a tent in the background and at the bottom - white text on a blue background.
  1. Close-up of mosquito larvae individually isolated inside clear, water-filled droplets arranged in a grid pattern under a vivid blue light.

    News

    Researchers deconstruct chikungunya outbreaks to improve prediction and vaccine development

    In a new study, researchers at the University of Notre Dame analyzed more than 80 outbreaks of chikungunya virus to improve prediction of future outbreaks and inform vaccine trial development.

  2. A researcher in a white lab coat looks closely into a mesh enclosure filled with numerous flying mosquitoes.

    News

    New vector control tool effectively reduces malaria transmission in major clinical trial

    The University of Notre Dame and Unitaid have announced that an innovative vector control tool for malaria called a spatial repellent showed a significant impact on reducing malaria infections.

  3. Close-up of a mosquito resting on a pink textured surface with a pair of metal tweezers hovering nearby under blue light.

    News

    Light pollution may increase biting behavior at night in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

    Artificial light abnormally increases mosquito biting behavior at night in a species that typically prefers to bite people during the day, according to research from the University of Notre Dame.

  4. Macrophotograph of a single mosquito with distinctive black and white striped markings on its legs and body resting on a smooth white edge.

    News

    Dengue virus transmission dominated by those with undetected infection

    Nearly 400 million people each year are infected with dengue virus, which is transmitted through mosquitoes.

Discover and engage
  1. A person wearing green leggings and white sneakers lying in a teal hammock and reading a book on campus.

    Photo Essay

    How was your summer?

    The month in photos, summer break edition

  2. A close-up portrait of an older woman with grey hair and black-rimmed glasses wearing a red shirt, looking thoughtfully past the camera with a neutral expression.

    Article

    Protecting renters from predatory landlords

    At Notre Dame Law School, the Eviction Clinic gives students real-world experience.

  3. Golden statue of Mary with an outstretched arm atop Notre Dame's Main Building dome under a crescent moon and star.

    Photo Essay

    Hey, May

    The month in photos, May 2026

  4. Focused woman in beige jacket, glasses, and headset, looking up while using a computer mouse. Man works at nearby station.

    Podcast

    Inside Artemis II mission control

    For seven hours, Notre Dame alumna Kelsey Young ’09 sat in NASA mission control, listening as astronauts described the Moon in real time from a vantage point no human had ever experienced before.

  5. Hesburgh Library's Word of Life mosaic under a blue sky, framed by vibrant purple tulips and a blossoming yellow tree.

    Photo Essay

    Spring at last!

    The month in photos, April 2026

  6. A woman in a navy blue shirt helps a young girl wearing glasses assemble wooden craft pieces.

    Article

    25 years of impact in South Bend

    The Robinson Community Learning Center stands as a lasting symbol of trust, partnership, and shared purpose between Notre Dame and its closest neighbors.

  7. The bronze sculpture Desert Rose by Arnaldo Pomodoro is placed at the center of the ecological greenhouse at the Gardens of Castel Gandolfo. The curved glass structure—covered with solar panels—frames the work within a light-filled, sustainable environment. Stone pathways and carefully trimmed hedges unfold beneath a canopy of Mediterranean pines.

    Article

    Sowing seeds of hope: Vatican partnership advances global sustainability

    The collaboration supports research, education, and action to build a more just, sustainable future.

  8. Broadly smiling woman with dark hair in a navy jacket with gold buttons, arms crossed, in front of bookshelves.

    Podcast

    What happened to the American family?

    The American family has changed dramatically over the past four decades, raising urgent questions about marriage, economic stability, and child well-being.

  9. Statue of Sacred Heart of Jesus, two lit candles, surrounded by worn black and brown shoes and scattered red tokens on wood.

    Article

    A saint of our own?

    The humble piety of Notre Dame cobbler Brother Columba inspires a canonization push.