Disease Detectives: Student researchers partner with the county health department to track down mosquitoes | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Disease Detectives: Student researchers partner with the county health department to track down mosquitoes Disease Detectives: Student researchers partner with the county health department to track down mosquitoes Published: October 12, 2021 Author: Deanna Csomo Ferrell Students At Spicer Lake University of Notre Dame graduate student Michelle Huang and junior Joseph Afuso pulled on their wading boots and sprayed a cloud of mosquito repellent onto their skin before gathering their supplies, including some dry ice, which Huang dumped into a round thermos. Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide given off by the dry ice, and the two were hoping they had attracted some mosquitoes at three different styles of traps they had set at St. Joseph County’s Spicer Lake. Of the 54 different species of mosquitoes in Indiana, around eight to 10 — there is not a firm number — are considered public health hazards. The University’s Department of Biological Sciences began working with the St. Joseph County Health Department this summer to boost vector surveillance efforts. Although the health department monitors mosquito traps around the county, lack of staff and the distance to Spicer Lake prevented technicians from surveilling that mosquito-rich location. The county needed a way to further monitor potential outbreaks of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus, and Notre Dame wanted a new opportunity to engage undergraduate students in research specific to public health. To read the full story, click here.  Posted In: Research Community News Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related June 07, 2022 Lilly Endowment grant will help leverage Notre Dame’s research enterprise to enhance environmental and public health in north-central Indiana October 06, 2021 ND-LEEF Science Sunday event to take place Oct. 10 August 25, 2021 ‘Smart sewer’ technology leads to nearly $450 million in savings for South Bend June 14, 2021 Summer computer science program at Notre Dame leads to statewide recognition for Penn-Harris-Madison teacher April 06, 2021 Notre Dame’s Happy Families Project offers paid opportunity to Indiana families seeking better communication tools For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn