Trump signs executive order to reduce mosquito and tick populations in Washington by 90%

Official start of the campaign against invasive species

On 29 September, Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating a large-scale programme to combat invasive mosquitoes and ticks in Washington. The main goal of the document is to reduce the population of invasive mosquitoes by 90% and ticks by 50% by 2028.

The primary targets of the measures are the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the Egyptian mosquito (Aedes aegyptus). The White House emphasises that these species are actively spreading across the US territory and have already become dominant in the District of Columbia.

Health threat and responsible agencies

The presence of these insects poses serious risks to public health. Mosquitoes can be carriers of the West Nile virus, Zika virus, chikungunya, and dengue fever. Ticks, in turn, are associated with the spread of Lyme disease, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other infections.

To implement the plan, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the General Services Administration have been given 60 days. Within this period, together with the Department of Health and Human Services, they must develop and launch the appropriate campaign. The programme envisages coordinating the actions of the District of Columbia authorities to cover other urban areas.

Focus on ecological methods and biotechnologies

The combat strategy does not provide for the mass application of conventional chemical pesticides. The main emphasis is placed on physical and ecological measures: improving drainage systems, landscape modification, regular vegetation mowing, and the creation of rain gardens. This will allow reducing the number of insect breeding sites.

Population control of rodents and deer, which contribute to the spread of ticks, is also planned.

A separate area of work is the implementation of biotechnologies. The EPA must prepare the regulatory framework for the use of new methods within 60 days, including:

• insect sterilisation;
• safe genetic modification;
• the use of beneficial bacteria.

In particular, the sterile insect technique is being considered for mosquito control, which involves releasing sterile individuals into the natural environment to reduce the species' reproductive capacity.

Additional measures and prospects

The US administration has also committed to accelerating the development of methods for diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases transmitted by insects. Within 90 days, federal agencies must announce research competitions, particularly regarding non-chemical ways to reduce pest populations.

The executive order separately mentions alpha-gal syndrome — a severe allergic reaction to animal-derived products that can occur after the bite of certain tick species. Authorities must study the possibility of labelling food products and medicines containing significant amounts of alpha-galactose.

Washington will become a pilot site for testing these innovative approaches. If the programme proves effective, the developed methods are planned to be used as a model for other regions of the US.