Epstein of Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and the Global Environment argues that the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like WNV is aided by several phenomena associated with global warming, including mild winters, hot summers, and drought. Drought in spring and summer concentrated nourishing organic matter in their breeding areas and simultaneously killed off mosquito predators, such as lacewings and ladybugs, that would otherwise have helped limit mosquito populations. Later in the summer, heavy rain created new mosquito breeding opportunities. For example, it is not acceptable to provide ample information on risks associated with WNV while witholding parallel information on the toxicity of pesticides used to combat mosquitoes. Rachel Massey is a consultant to Environmental Research Foundation.
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