Vertical Infestation Profile ofAedesin Selected Urban High-Rise Residences in Malaysia

Dengue is placing huge burdens on the Malaysian healthcare system as well as the economy. With the expansion in the number of high-rise residential buildings, particularly in the urban centers, the flight range and behavior ofAedesmosquitoes may be altered in this habitat type. In this study, we aimed to expand the understanding of the vertical distribution and dispersal ofAedesin nine selected high-rise residences in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Johor using ovitraps as the sampling method. We discovered thatAe. aegyptiis the predominant species in all study sites. BothAe. aegyptiandAe. albopictusare most abundant within the first three levels and could be found up to level 21 (approximately 61.1-63.0 m). Pearson correlation analyses exhibited negative correlations in eight out of nine study sites between the ovitrap indexes (OIs) within each floor level, suggesting thatAedesdensity decreased as the building level increased. Our findings provide information to the public health authorities on 'hot spot' floors for effective suppression of dengue transmission.