Costa Rica: Agriculture & dengue
Landscapes of Risk: Mosquitos, Dengue, and Land Use in Costa Rica
Dengue fever is endemic in Costa Rica, affecting rural regions where land use changes—such as the expansion of pineapple and oil palm plantations—can create favorable conditions for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that transmit dengue. Understanding what drives dengue transmission in these environments is critical for developing control strategies that effectively reduce disease burden.
In collaboration with the University of Costa Rica, the Ministry of Health, the Golfito Initiative (LAPA), and the Natural Capital Project, DECO is conducting fieldwork in two high-burden regions: Sarapiquí and Quepos. By collecting mosquitoes across a forest-agriculture-urban gradient, this project aims to uncover where people are most at risk. Our team is comparing vector presence, abundance, larval habitats, blood feeding behavior, and dengue infection rates between land use types and mosquito species. We are also collecting drone imagery and using machine learning to identify high-risk areas for targeted mosquito control.
These data will inform the development of dengue risk maps and decision-support tools linking land use patterns to disease transmission. DECO’s approach integrates vector ecology with landscape analysis and agricultural land-use practices to generate actionable insights. Our goal is to support public health through practical, cost-effective interventions. By building long-term partnerships and a strong evidence base, DECO aims to provide a model for mitigating dengue risk while promoting healthy rural communities in Costa Rica.
Watch why Stanford scientists believe climate change is expanding range of disease-carrying mosquitos:
Team
Erin Mordecai, Rodolfo Dirzo, Caroline Glidden, Emma Krasovich Southworth, Adriana Troyo, Diana Rojas, Isaac Vargas
Partners
