Reed, Walter (1851–1902)

US physician and medical researcher who isolated the aedes mosquito Aedes aegypti as the sole carrier of yellow fever. This led to the local eradication of the deadly virus disease by destruction of mosquito breeding grounds. His breakthrough work was carried out during a yellow-fever epidemic 1900–01 in Cuba.

Born in Belroi, Virginia, Reed received an MD degree from the University of Virginia 1869. He joined the Army Medical Corps 1875, served as an army surgeon in Arizona 1876–89 and Baltimore 1890–93, and was professor at the Army Medical College 1893–1902.

His 1898 research into the causes and transmission of typhoid fever brought about significant control of the disease in army camps. He also worked on malaria and diphtheria.