Ute Indian Tribe Deploys In-House Mosquito Surveillance Lab

Located on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in northeastern Utah, the tribe will use the new molecular diagnostic platform to process mosquito pools locally. This shift allows the Mosquito Abatement Department to bypass external testing delays, providing real-time data to guide vector-control efforts. Co-Diagnostics CEO Dwight Egan noted that the installation aligns with recent federal priorities emphasizing the rapid diagnosis of mosquito-borne diseases through decentralized testing infrastructure.

Rick Chapoose Jr., director of the tribal department and past president of the Utah Mosquito Abatement Association, framed the acquisition as a step toward tribal self-determination. The technology enables the identification of pathogens including Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, dengue, and chikungunya. By managing these diagnostics internally, the tribe seeks to bolster the health protections available to its members across its lands.