In collaboration with the Yuma County Pest Control District, our lab has established a mosquito surveillance system, identifying West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis in mosquito samples collected throughout the community.  With the rising temperatures, mosquito populations are increasing, and Arizona has the highest detection of St. louis Encephalitis in the nation. Viral detection data is used to treat or modify the site where the positive mosquito sample was collected to prevent disease transmission. These efforts have prompted rapid response and removal of positive-testing mosquito samples to mitigate the risk of human transmission, as well as the development of ongoing strategies for controlling mosquito populations and preventing future outbreaks in the region.