Tag

Vector Borne Diseases

All articles tagged with #vector borne diseases

health7 days ago•202 min saved

Ticks and Mosquitoes Are Expanding Health Threats Across the U.S.

Climate change and landscape changes are helping ticks and mosquitoes spread to new regions in the U.S., boosting the incidence of Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, alpha-gal syndrome, and other vector-borne illnesses. Emergency department visits for tick bites are at a multi-year high, and experts warn the trend will worsen as warming continues. Prevention via repellents, permethrin-treated clothing, reducing standing water, and other environmental tweaks is key, with vaccines and new tick-control tools in development.

via CNN|

#alpha-gal-syndrome #climate-change #health

health26 days ago•18 min saved

Powassan Case Signals Spike in Maine Tick Activity

Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne illness transmitted by deer ticks, has been detected in a Maine resident in Penobscot County—the state’s first case this year—as tick activity rises to its highest levels in about a decade. Powassan remains rare and has no vaccine; severe infections can inflame the brain or spinal cord and cause long-term problems, with roughly 40 Maine cases recorded since 2000.

via The Maine Wire|

#cdc #health #maine

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Mosquitoes may be drawn to DEET after a feeding experience, study finds

A laboratory study shows mosquitoes can form a learned association between the repellent DEET and a blood meal, with about 60% of trained mosquitoes attempting to bite DEET when later exposed to it. This suggests repellents can be less effective under certain conditions, though experts stress normal use remains valid and travelers should continue reapplying as directed; more research is needed to understand how long such memories last and how this translates outside the lab.

via The Guardian|

#deet #learning #mosquitoes

science3 months ago•7 min saved

Mosquitoes Target Humans With Combined Visual and CO2 Cues, Study Finds

Researchers used Bayesian inference to build a dynamic, ~30-parameter model of Aedes aegypti flight from 53 million data points collected in 20 experiments, revealing that mosquitoes integrate visual cues and carbon dioxide to locate humans. They identified two flight modes (active exploration and idle/landing prep) and found visual cues alone attract mosquitoes to dark objects but don’t trigger landing without additional cues, while CO2 prompts rapid speed changes and erratic flight. When both cues are present, mosquitoes cluster closer to targets, suggesting multisensory lure designs could improve traps and disease control.

via WIRED|

#bayesian-inference #mosquito-traps #mosquitoes

science4 months ago•7 min saved

Tracking Mosquito Orbits: How a Mesh-Suit Study Reveals Human Target Cues

Georgia Tech researchers used a mesh suit, a Styrofoam dummy, and a high-speed camera to record millions of mosquito flight trajectories around a human, then applied Bayesian inference to model how heat, moisture, carbon dioxide, and visual cues drive host-seeking. The result is a predictive model that identifies “zones of danger” and could inform smarter traps and deterrents, aiding efforts to reduce mosquito-borne disease transmission.

via The Conversation|

#bayesian-inference #behavioral-modeling #host-seeking

science5 months ago•8 min saved

Deforestation Pushes Mosquitoes Toward Humans for Blood

A Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution study in Rio de Janeiro’s Atlantic Forest remnants shows mosquitoes feeding on humans more often than on other animals, likely because biodiversity loss reduces alternative hosts. From 1,714 mosquitoes across 52 species, 24 blood meals were identified, with 18 traced to humans. The findings suggest that host availability and proximity drive this shift, increasing the risk of pathogen transmission (dengue, Zika, Yellow Fever, Mayaro, Chikungunya) and underscoring the need for targeted surveillance and ecosystem-aware disease control.

via SciTechDaily|

#biodiversity-loss #deforestation #human-blood-meals

science6 months ago•38 min saved

Forest loss nudges Atlantic Forest mosquitoes toward human blood

New research links deforestation in the Atlantic Forest to mosquitoes increasingly feeding on humans, suggesting biodiversity decline and habitat destruction push mosquitoes to human blood and raise the risk of new disease vectors; reversing habitat destruction could help, but the reversibility of this shift remains uncertain.

via Yahoo|

#atlantic-forest #biodiversity-loss #deforestation

health6 months ago•2 min saved

Scientists Warn of Global Spread of Disease-Carrying Insects

A study in Nature Communications warns that the global spread of mosquitoes through trade and travel has increased significantly since the 1950s, raising the risk of vector-borne diseases like West Nile virus and encephalitis, which pose serious health and economic challenges. The expansion is driven by global shipping, trade routes, and climate change, emphasizing the need for preventive measures such as protective clothing and eliminating standing water.

via Yahoo|

#disease-spread #global-trade #health

science6 months ago•5 min saved

Male Mosquitoes Can Also Feed on Blood

Recent research reveals that male mosquitoes can feed on blood under certain conditions, challenging long-held beliefs and raising concerns about their potential role in disease transmission, although further studies are needed to understand the implications fully.

via Gizmodo|

#bloodfeeding #male-mosquitoes #mosquitoes

science10 months ago•1 min saved

Texas's Mosquito Boom: Extending Season and Rising Threats

The Texas State Department of Public Health Services is actively studying dangerous mosquitoes to prevent the resurgence of vector-borne diseases like malaria and yellow fever, which are re-emerging in the US as efforts to control these insects have waned.

via vox.com|

#entomology #mosquitoes #public-health

public-health1 year ago•3 min saved

Three South Carolina Cities Among Worst in US for Mosquito Infestations

Myrtle Beach, along with Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina, ranks among the top 50 U.S. cities for mosquito infestations in 2025, according to pest control reports, highlighting the importance of proactive mosquito control measures to prevent disease transmission and reduce nuisance bites during the peak season from April to October.

via Post and Courier|

#mosquitoes #myrtle-beach #pest-control

health1 year ago•6 min saved

Climate Change Reshapes Infectious Disease Patterns

Climate change is altering Europe's climate, leading to a northward shift of tropical and vector-borne diseases like dengue, expanding the range of mosquitoes and ticks, and increasing water and sea-borne pathogens, while melting permafrost risks releasing ancient microbes and toxins, all of which pose new public health challenges that require adaptation and increased awareness.

via France 24|

#climate-change #europe #health

health1 year ago•12 min saved

Oropouche Virus Alert: Potential Citywide Visit

The Oropouche virus, historically rare and confined to tropical regions, has caused a major outbreak in South America in 2023-2024, spreading to urban areas and raising concerns about its potential to reach the US due to climate change, deforestation, and increased travel. With no current vaccines or treatments, and its spread facilitated by midges and environmental factors, experts warn that this and similar vector-borne diseases are becoming a global threat, emphasizing the need for better surveillance, prevention, and preparedness.

via vox.com|

#climate-change #health #oropouche-virus

health1 year ago•3 min saved

Cayman Islands Reports First Oropouche Virus Case

The Cayman Islands has confirmed its first imported case of the Oropouche virus, a vector-borne disease transmitted by midges and mosquitoes, prompting public health officials to urge vigilance against such diseases. While no local transmission has been reported, the region is experiencing a rise in cases, with recent outbreaks in countries like Panama and Brazil. The Cayman Islands' health authorities emphasize the importance of public awareness and mosquito control measures to prevent the spread of Oropouche and dengue fever.

via Jamaica Observer|

#cayman-islands #health #mosquito-control

health2 years ago•2 min saved

"Massachusetts Leads U.S. in Life-Threatening Powassan Virus Cases in Ticks"

UMass Amherst researchers utilized real-time testing during a tick survey in parts of Massachusetts and detected the emerging Powassan virus, which can cause symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness. The survey found that 4.03% of ticks tested positive for the virus, with pockets of high incidence in certain areas. The development of sensitive detection methods for diagnostics and surveillance is crucial in assessing the risk of exposure, and steps to protect against tick bites include checking for ticks and wearing protective clothing.

via WWLP.com|

#health #massachusetts #powassan-virus