 Avian malaria ("Plasmodium relictum") and fowlpox transmitted by accidentally introduced mosquitoes continues to affect the akekee, limiting its populations to habitat above 1,100 meters ASL, where mosquitoes do not occur.Forest clearing in different parts of the island of Kauai has caused the loss of habitat for this and many other bird species.The conservation status for this species was updated to critically endangered in 2008 due to a rapid decrease in population over the preceding decade.