The rise of mosquito-borne diseases.

According to the United Nations, since 2007, more people globally were living in cities than at any other time in history. In Africa, projections show that by 2030 the urban population will rise to 824 million – an increase of almost 25 percent compared with today and by 2035, more people on the continent will be living in urban than in rural areas. We are already in a situation in which one in three people living in urban areas live in overcrowded and poorly maintained housing and neighbourhoods, impacting on the health of these populations. Continued urbanisation will increase the likelihood of cities becoming epicentres of disease transmission – of particular concern is the effect this will have on mosquito-borne diseases.

By Manuel Lluberas

Internationally recognized entomologist with over thirty years of experience on the business architecture, capacity building, and community engagement related to mosquito population management, WASH, and other public health matters obtained in four continents. Skilled in directing and managing time-sensitive projects and preparing and presenting oral and written briefings in English or Spanish to senior country leadership. Expert in setting up and managing time-sensitive disaster preparedness and response projects to protect survivors and relief and reconstruction workers in the wake of emergencies and disasters. Published over thirty, peer-reviewed technical articles on mosquito population management and emergency vector control, wrote a column for Malaria World, contributed to the publication of two WHO’s operational pamphlets, and presented numerous lectures in Spanish and English on these subjects. Awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the American Mosquito Control Association for contributions to public health entomology. Finalist to the Rear Admiral Charles S. Stevenson Award for excellence in US Navy Preventive Medicine. Certified as remote pilot of small, Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS or drone). Spanish to English simultaneous interpreter.

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