4. Transforming cities in a large mosquito trap while improving their livability

Aedes-transmitted diseases are, largely, diseases emanating from neglected private and social spaces [57]. In backyards, buildings, vacant lands and empty lots, trash and untended structures provide perfect breeding places not only for Aedes mosquitoes, but also for many other urban and domestic pests. These neglected places have a negative impact on the environment and quality of life of the community, as well as on their economic development and safety [58]. Therefore, a campaign to remove mosquito breeding places is also a campaign to reinvigorate depressed or unplanned urban areas, thereby improving living conditions [59–61].

It is important to highlight that mosquito control has to be integrated into "cross-cutting" solutions for public health, turning societal vulnerabilities into resilience [61, 62] – i.e. what is good for elimination of Aedes, should also be beneficial on other societal fronts. For instance, environmental management of Aedes might discourage traditional ad hoc water storage practices such as private water-storage systems [16, 28]. But resilience to crises and catastrophes are enhanced through decentralized and resource-autonomous societies [63], for example potable water that is locally collected, treated [64] and appropriately stored (so that it is inaccessible to mosquitoes) would still be available even if the water supply from a centralized provider is unavailable, disrupted or fails.
