Anna-Bella Failloux, an entomologist at France's Pasteur Institute, is focusing on the rising threat of mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit, which are increasingly spreading due to climate change. Failloux, who grew up in Tahiti, has dedicated her career to studying mosquito-borne diseases, particularly after witnessing the impact of elephantiasis in her childhood community. She noted that rising temperatures have expanded the habitats of mosquitoes, increasing the risk of diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.
Failloux's research includes monitoring mosquito populations in France, where tiger mosquitoes have been detected in greater numbers. She emphasized the importance of public engagement in mosquito control efforts, which include maintaining clean environments to eliminate breeding grounds. The World Health Organization reports that 80% of the global population is now at risk of infectious diseases that were once limited to tropical regions, with these diseases resulting in over a million deaths annually, primarily among children. Starting in 2028, Failloux will lead a new research center focused on developing strategies to control mosquito populations, supported by a 30 million euro investment from the Pasteur Institute.