Clarkson University Researchers Honored for Contribution to Mosquito Surveillance That Detected West Nile Virus in St. Lawrence County

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Clarkson University faculty and students have played a key role in a new mosquito surveillance program in St. Lawrence County that recently confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus in the region. The detection, announced by the county's Public Health Department, provides critical information to guide local disease prevention efforts.

By confirming the presence of West Nile Virus in local mosquito populations, the surveillance program gives public health leaders better insight into regional disease risks. This data helps officials prepare more targeted responses, such as avoiding broad insecticide spraying and focusing instead on specific high-risk areas.

The Public Health Department launched the initiative in summer 2025 to monitor mosquito populations and test for vector-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The program is supported by local college and university faculty who volunteered their time and expertise, including Clarkson University Biology Professor Tom Langen.

Researchers established mosquito trap sites at Brasher State Forest, the Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area near Canton, and Clarkson Woods in Potsdam. Thousands of mosquitoes were collected, sorted, and tested for disease-carrying pathogens over the summer.

Clarkson's contributions, along with those of other local faculty, were recognized by the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators, which honored the professors for their professional insight and technical assistance. The recognition highlighted the value of academic partnerships in strengthening public health programs and advancing community-based research.

The students who worked on this project with Langen were part of Clarkson's Aquatic Science, Engineering, and Technology (ASET) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program (ASET-REU), a 10-week program and immersive research experience exposing 10 undergraduates per year to authentic aquatic research.

Other contributors include Associate Biology Professor Robert L. Snyder; Associate Professor of Environment and Sustainability Katherine Cleary; and Professor and Department Chair of Biology Glenn Johnson, all of SUNY Potsdam; along with Associate Professor of Environmental Biology Brian Leydet and Professor and Director of the Ranger School Mariann Johnston, of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.