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Malaria

All articles tagged with #malaria

Tiny, Deadly Bites: Mosquitoes Claim 700,000 Lives Each Year
health11 days ago

Tiny, Deadly Bites: Mosquitoes Claim 700,000 Lives Each Year

Globally, mosquitoes kill more than 700,000 people annually by spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis; malaria alone accounts for over 600,000 deaths each year, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Dengue infects about 400 million people annually with roughly 21,000 deaths. In the U.S., malaria has reemerged with locally acquired cases in 2023, while dengue cases surged in 2024 (up 359% above the 2010–2023 average) and West Nile virus reached a 22-year high. Vaccines exist for several of these diseases, but only a small fraction of the thousands of mosquito species transmit pathogens; most mosquitoes are harmless.

via New York Post|
#dengue#health#malaria
Invasive Malaria Mosquito Crossing Africa Escalates Urban Threat
world21 days ago

Invasive Malaria Mosquito Crossing Africa Escalates Urban Threat

An invasive, urban-adapted malaria mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, that is resistant to current insecticides is spreading across Africa far faster than feared, threatening malaria in megacities. Genomic analysis traces its rapid expansion from Djibouti into Ethiopia and Kenya, then Sudan and West Africa, with urban transmission possible year‑round. Public-health responses are hampered by shrinking surveillance funding and limited resources, making containment unlikely and potentially worsening urban malaria burdens in cities like Lagos and Kinshasa.

via nytimes.com|
#africa#anopheles-stephensi#insecticide-resistance
Mosquitoes on the Move: four charts reveal a widening global threat
science26 days ago

Mosquitoes on the Move: four charts reveal a widening global threat

Four charts illustrate how disease‑carrying mosquitoes are expanding worldwide due to climate change and globalization: Aedes albopictus has reached new European regions in 2025–26, dengue and chikungunya outbreaks have surged and malaria remained a major killer (282 million cases in 2024); over the centuries, 45 vector mosquitoes have invaded new regions, with 12 since 2000, aided by tyres, live plants, and modern travel, while rising temperatures widen the transmission window.

via Nature|
#climate-change#dengue#malaria
Ancient DNA refutes Medici poisoning theory, malaria blamed for Francesco I
science28 days ago

Ancient DNA refutes Medici poisoning theory, malaria blamed for Francesco I

Yale researchers used ancient DNA from Francesco I de' Medici and his brother Giovanni to test centuries-old poisoning rumors; they found genetic traces of Plasmodium falciparum and other malaria parasites in the remains, indicating Francesco’s 1587 death was likely due to malaria rather than poisoning and illustrating how genomic analysis can resolve historic mysteries and illuminate parasite evolution.

via Fox News|
#ancient-dna#malaria#medici
Catnip Lotion Emerges as Low-Cost Mosquito Shield in Rural Uganda
science1 month ago

Catnip Lotion Emerges as Low-Cost Mosquito Shield in Rural Uganda

Homegrown catnip lotion (nepetalactone) has proven as effective as DEET for repelling mosquitoes in rural Uganda, with 6% nepetalactone matching DEET and 2% only slightly less effective, offering a low-cost, locally produced alternative. Researchers from Cardiff University and Ugandan partners stress the benefit of reducing reliance on malaria medicines as resistance grows, and aim for a self-sustaining production and distribution system. The lotion, called DSK, cannot be patented since it relies on essential oils and cosmetic bases, but could empower communities by involving locals in production and market rollout.

via Good News Network|
#catnip#malaria#mosquito-repellent
Ancient DNA ties Medici deaths to malaria, ending centuries of murder speculation
science1 month ago

Ancient DNA ties Medici deaths to malaria, ending centuries of murder speculation

New ancient-DNA analysis of Medici tomb remains finds malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum and P. malariae) in Francesco I de’ Medici’s bones and malaria signals in Giovanni, strengthening the case that the 1587 deaths were due to malaria rather than arsenic poisoning, while noting that toxin influence can’t be completely ruled out and that DNA evidence isn’t always definitive.

via CNN|
#dna-analysis#malaria#medici
Catnip-based lotion rivals DEET in field tests for malaria-prone areas
science1 month ago

Catnip-based lotion rivals DEET in field tests for malaria-prone areas

A field study in eastern Uganda found a catnip oil lotion (2% and 6%) protected people from mosquito bites as effectively as a DEET-based repellent, suggesting a low-cost, locally producible option for malaria prevention. The researchers emphasize affordability and local production, while noting repellents work best with consistent weekly use and should complement other measures like bed nets and indoor spraying.

via USA Today|
#catnip-oil#deet#malaria
Catnip lotion rivals DEET for mosquito protection in Uganda study
health1 month ago

Catnip lotion rivals DEET for mosquito protection in Uganda study

A field and laboratory study in Uganda found that a 6% catnip oil lotion was as effective as 15% DEET in repelling mosquitoes, while a 2% catnip lotion was only marginally less effective. The lotion can be locally produced by a community enterprise, offering a low-cost, sustainable tool for malaria control in rural areas, with plans to scale production and improve access—though further research on usage and compliance remains important.

via The Guardian|
#catnip#health#malaria
Ancient DNA Confirms Malaria Claimed the Medici Brothers, Not Poison
archaeology1 month ago

Ancient DNA Confirms Malaria Claimed the Medici Brothers, Not Poison

A DNA study of Francesco I and Giovanni de’ Medici’s remains finds Plasmodium falciparum in both brothers and Plasmodium malariae in Francesco, confirming malaria—not poison—as the cause of death in 1587; researchers also identified a novel P. falciparum lineage in Giovanni, suggesting historic parasite movements across Europe during population growth. Published in iScience (2026) by Ochoa et al., the work aligns with Renaissance fever records and highlights how ancient DNA clarifies the history of one of humanity’s oldest diseases.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|
#ancient-dna#archaeology#malaria
Ancient DNA nails malaria as the Medici brothers’ demise
science1 month ago

Ancient DNA nails malaria as the Medici brothers’ demise

An international team analyzed the 16th‑century remains of Cardinal Giovanni de’ Medici and Grand Duke Francesco I and found DNA evidence of malaria parasites, confirming they died of malaria rather than poisoning; Francesco’s bones show infection with both P. falciparum and P. malariae, while Giovanni carried a novel P. falciparum strain. The work, published in iScience, provides insight into malaria’s evolution in Europe and suggests swampy Tuscany environments facilitated transmission in the Medici era.

via Live Science|
#ancient-dna#archaeology#malaria