Scientific American: Dear EarthTalk: Is there a link between the recent spread of mosquito-borne diseases around the world and environmental pollution?--Meg Ross, Lantana, Fla.
If by pollution you mean greenhouse gas emissions, then definitely yes. According to Maria Diuk-Wasser at the Yale School of Public Health, the onset of human-induced global warming is likely to increase the infection rates of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus by creating more mosquito-friendly habitats....