All articles tagged with #vector borne disease
A Maine adult in Lincoln County tested positive for Powassan virus, the third confirmed case in Maine this year, while a Cumberland County wild bird tested positive for West Nile virus—the state's first this year. Powassan is a rare but potentially deadly tick-borne brain infection that can transmit quickly after a bite; about 10% of severe cases die, and researchers are studying how ticks survive Maine winters.
CDC data show a record 3,798 dengue cases in the United States and DC in 2024, up 359% from the 2010–2023 average, with travel-associated cases (97.2%) far exceeding locally acquired ones (2.8%). The Caribbean, Mexico, and Cuba were major exposure regions; Florida, California, and Texas reported local transmission in multiple counties. The median patient age was 49; 57.5% identified as Hispanic/Latino, and 36.1% were hospitalized, with six deaths (0.2%). DENV-3 was the most common serotype among those tested. The findings call for stronger prevention, vector control, and traveler-focused messaging, while vaccines are not yet available for short-term travelers; protective measures include EPA-approved repellents, protective clothing, screens, and reducing standing water.
Experts say you can’t completely avoid mosquitos, but you can cut bites with five summer strategies: remove standing water around your home to curb breeding, use proven repellents (such as DEET, picaridin, or IR3535), wear protective clothing, keep doors and windows sealed with screens, and maintain landscaping to reduce mosquito habitats. The piece notes mosquitos can spread diseases like dengue and West Nile virus, and that climate change is expanding mosquito ranges and seasons in the U.S.
UF researchers warn that Florida’s kissing bugs are most active in late spring and can transmit a parasite associated with chronic, potentially fatal heart disease, as these insects bite sleeping animals and humans, posing a notable health threat.
Kissing bugs in central and northern South America bite at night and can transmit the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite via their feces; this infection causes Chagas disease, which damages the heart and digestive muscles and can be fatal if untreated. The WHO estimates about 8 million people are infected worldwide with around 10,000 deaths annually, a history tied to Darwin’s South American travels.
A mosquito capable of biting ankles has been found in Washington County, prompting a public health alert to inform residents about potential risks of mosquito-borne diseases.
Kissing bugs are now endemic in the US and can transmit Chagas disease, a parasitic illness. Experts explain how the disease is diagnosed and treated, highlighting the growing public health concern associated with this vector-borne disease.
Fox News anchor John Roberts was hospitalized with a severe case of malaria after returning from Indonesia, highlighting concerns about the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria due to climate change, which is expanding the disease's transmission season even in traditionally cooler regions like New York City.
Rhode Island officials confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in Johnston, East Providence, and Cranston, with the state's risk level now high, after samples collected on August 18 tested positive, though no other viruses were detected.
Guyana is the only Caribbean country with a confirmed case of Oropouche fever, a viral disease spreading across the Americas, primarily transmitted by midges, with no current vaccine or specific treatment. PAHO emphasizes the need for surveillance, vector control, and public health measures to prevent further spread, especially as climate change and urbanization increase midge populations.
Massachusetts has confirmed its second case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in mosquitoes this year, with no human or animal cases reported yet. The infected mosquitoes were found in Bridgewater and Belchertown, prompting health officials to advise precautions such as using insect repellent and eliminating standing water to reduce mosquito bites. EEE is a deadly virus with a high fatality rate and potential for severe neurological damage, but most human cases occur in late summer and early fall.
Mosquitoes in Madison County tested positive for Jamestown Canyon Virus, a mosquito-borne disease that can cause symptoms ranging from mild flu-like illness to severe neurological conditions, though no human cases have been reported yet.