Vector-borne diseases: What you need to know

Mosquitoes pass infectious diseases to hundreds of millions of people worldwide each year, including those cause that an estimated 214 million cases of malaria in 2015. Diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever and Zika virus also are spread by the insects, sometimes causing outbreaks.

World Mosquito Day, which was held Aug. 20, marks the date in 1897 when Sir Ronald Ross confirmed Anopheles mosquitoes as the vector of malaria. In recognition of World Mosquito Day, Infectious Disease News compiled a list of recent stories about mosquitoes and their links to illness.

CDC warns pregnant women to avoid area in Florida over Zika fears

Florida recently announced the first cases of locally acquired Zika in the continental United States, leading the CDC to warn pregnant women to avoid two areas where health officials believe mosquitoes infected with the virus are biting people: a small area of Miami just north of downtown, and an area of Miami Beach between 8th and 28th streets. It is thought to be the first time in history that the CDC has asked people to avoid parts of the continental U.S. over health fears. Read more

CDC, FDA encourage Puerto Rico to use aerial spraying amid Zika outbreak

The CDC and FDA recently recommended that Puerto Rico consider aerial spraying to kill mosquitoes in the midst of an explosive Zika virus outbreak. The EPA says aerial spraying is safe for humans and a proven way to control the mosquito population and helps prevent the spread of disease. Read more

New mosquito traps offer nontoxic alternatives in Zika fight

Mosquito control also was the goal of researchers in Canada and Mexico who developed a novel, low-cost and effective method for capturing and destroying Aedes mosquito eggs by using traps made from used tires. The method does not use pesticides or noxious chemicals and may have implications for the prevention of vector-borne diseases. Read more

Aedes mosquitoes pose widespread threat of disease

Zika is not the only mosquito-borne disease that has caused a recent outbreak in the Americas. Dengue and chikungunya viruses are rampant and cause symptoms that are often debilitating. All three diseases share a common vector — the Aedes mosquito, an aggressive daytime biter. Read more

A female Anopheles quadriannulatus mosquito during a blood meal.

Source: CDC/James Gathany.

Chikungunya spreads to Turkish mosquitoes

Chikungunya was detected for the first time among Turkish mosquitoes during a sampling of the insects last year that also found that West Nile virus and other mosquito-specific flaviviruses and alphaviruses continued to proliferate in the region. The sampling was done in Turkish regions with increased residencies and refugee travel. Read more

Past dengue exposure may increase potency of Zika infection

Dengue and Zika viruses are spread by the same mosquitoes and circulate in the same areas of Brazil, the country at the epicenter of the recent outbreak of Zika in the Americas. According to new research, the potency of a Zika infection may be greater in patients who were previously exposed to dengue, which may explain the extent of the current outbreak of Zika. Read more

Use of genetically modified mosquitoes lacks support

In a poll taken last year before the Zika virus outbreak began making headlines, a majority of the residents of a small community in the Florida Keys who responded to a mailed survey said they did not support the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes to help prevent vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya and dengue. Read more

Ivermectin interrupts malaria transmission in mosquitoes

Findings from several studies presented in 2015 suggest that ivermectin, a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent, is active against multiple strains of malaria and may be capable of interrupting transmission of the disease. Read more