#176 Brisbane’s backyard mosquito hunters are helping keep Zika at bay with Dr Gordana Rašić and Brian Montgomery

Could the mosquitoes in your backyard be helping stop the next outbreak?In this episode, Dani sits down with medical entomologist Brian Montgomery and mosquito genomics expert Dr Gordana Rašić to talk about Zika Mozzie Seeker, a ten-year citizen science project that’s helped keep south east Queensland free of Zika and dengue-carrying mosquitoes.They dig into how genome mapping is turning backyard egg collections into powerful tools for predicting mosquito invasions, the new Mozzie SHIELDS project linking ports, schools and communities, and why “zero” might be the most exciting number in public health.Mosquito Image Credit: Sam Dickinsonhttps://inaturalist.ala.org.au/people/dickinsonsgMore Informationhttps://www.metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/get-involved/zika-mozzie-seeker-citizen-science-projecthttps://www.qimrb.edu.au/mozzieshieldsIf you enjoy this podcast, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts.Leave us a review and share this show with your friends.It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.Contact the ShowWe are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.You can email us at: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.