Vector-borne diseases—like dengue, malaria, Zika, and yellow fever—are rapidly expanding and account for nearly one-fifth of all infectious diseases worldwide. These illnesses, often carried by mosquitoes or other biting insects, are especially common in tropical places like the Amazon rainforest, where climate change, deforestation, and expanding cities are making outbreaks more frequent. Human activity in previously untouched ecosystems increases the chances of diseases jumping from animals to people.

To better track and predict outbreaks, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia teamed up with partners at the University of Wisconsin and Abbott Labs to study people with fevers across four cities in Colombia. Between 2020 and 2024, over 4,000 individuals were tested. The results found more than a third were infected with mosquito-borne diseases—especially in the southern Colombia city of Leticia, where all known cases of rarer viruses like Oropouche and Mayaro occurred.

In addition to testing patients, NASA satellite data was used to map changing environmental conditions like vegetation and temperature. Drones with thermal cameras were deployed to detect animals that may carry disease. This data is being used to build an interactive online map that helps communities and public health officials better prepare for and prevent future outbreaks.