Latest news with #aedesaegypti
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
Increased Movement Of People Making Dengue Outbreaks More Common, Says Mosquito Expert
Greg Devine said mosquitos that carry the virus 'hitchhike around the world' and the increased movement of people is increasing those infected by dengue. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist Dengue fever outbreaks have been surging in recent decades but new initiatives like infecting mosquitos with bacteria or genetic modification could dramatically slow the spread. According to the World Health Organization there was just over 500,0000 reported cases in 2000 – ballooning to 5.2 million in 2019. Last year, there were 14 million dengue cases – a record number dwarfing the previous 2023 high of 6.5 million. This year, there's been 2.5 million. Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands have all declared dengue outbreaks. Samoa, Fiji and Tonga have each had at least one death from the viral infection. Greg Devine from the World Mosquito Program said increased globalisation is making outbreaks more common. Devine said mosquitos that carry the virus 'hitchhike around the world' and the increased movement of people is increasing those infected by dengue. Devine said a lot of people also don't have immunity. 'They don't have any protection against it because they've never been exposed to it before,' he said. 'Dengue comes in four different serotypes, so just because you've had one doesn't mean you can't get another.' He said climate change was having an increasing impact. 'We are hotter and wetter than we've ever been before and that's great for mosquitoes. It also means that the virus in mosquitoes is replicating more rapidly.' The aedes aegypti mosquito – which carries dengue – is considered a tropical or subtropical mosquito, but Devine said warmer weather would also increase the mosquitoes' range of where it inhabits. In the Pacific, health ministries are trying to stamp out mosquito breeding grounds and are spraying insecticides outside. But Devine said doing so has had limited success in reducing the spread. He said the aedes aegypti mosquito is 'completely reliant upon humans for its blood meals' which meant it liked to stay indoors, not outdoors where the majority of the spraying happens. 'Outdoor use of insecticides, it's perhaps better than nothing and the truth is that the community wants to see something happening. 'That's a very visible intervention but the reality is, there's a very limited evidence base for its impact.' Mosquitoes continually exposed to insecticides would also evolve resistance, Devine said. The World Mosquito Programme infects mosquitos with a naturally occurring bacteria called Wolbachia, which stops viruses like dengue growing in the mosquitoes' bodies. 'It's been trialled in New Caledonia, where it's been extremely successful,' Devine said. 'In the years since, the mosquito releases have been made by the World Mosquito Program, there's been no dengue epidemics where once they were extremely common.' He said genetically modified mosquitoes were also being looked at as a solution. 'That's a different kind of strategy, where you release large numbers of mosquitoes which have been modified in a way which means when those males interact with the local mosquito female population, the resulting offspring are not viable, and so that can crash the entire population.' When asked if that could collapse the entire aedes aegypti mosquito population, Devine said he wouldn't be 'particularly worried about decimating numbers'. 'People often refer to it as the kind of cockroach of the mosquito world. 'It's very, very closely adapted to the human population in most parts of its range. The species evolved in Africa and has since, spread throughout the world. It's not a particularly important mosquito for many ecosystems.'
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
Increased Movement Of People Making Dengue Outbreaks More Common, Says Mosquito Expert
Greg Devine said mosquitos that carry the virus 'hitchhike around the world' and the increased movement of people is increasing those infected by dengue. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist Dengue fever outbreaks have been surging in recent decades but new initiatives like infecting mosquitos with bacteria or genetic modification could dramatically slow the spread. According to the World Health Organization there was just over 500,0000 reported cases in 2000 – ballooning to 5.2 million in 2019. Last year, there were 14 million dengue cases – a record number dwarfing the previous 2023 high of 6.5 million. This year, there's been 2.5 million. Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands have all declared dengue outbreaks. Samoa, Fiji and Tonga have each had at least one death from the viral infection. Greg Devine from the World Mosquito Program said increased globalisation is making outbreaks more common. Devine said mosquitos that carry the virus 'hitchhike around the world' and the increased movement of people is increasing those infected by dengue. Devine said a lot of people also don't have immunity. 'They don't have any protection against it because they've never been exposed to it before,' he said. 'Dengue comes in four different serotypes, so just because you've had one doesn't mean you can't get another.' He said climate change was having an increasing impact. 'We are hotter and wetter than we've ever been before and that's great for mosquitoes. It also means that the virus in mosquitoes is replicating more rapidly.' The aedes aegypti mosquito – which carries dengue – is considered a tropical or subtropical mosquito, but Devine said warmer weather would also increase the mosquitoes' range of where it inhabits. In the Pacific, health ministries are trying to stamp out mosquito breeding grounds and are spraying insecticides outside. But Devine said doing so has had limited success in reducing the spread. He said the aedes aegypti mosquito is 'completely reliant upon humans for its blood meals' which meant it liked to stay indoors, not outdoors where the majority of the spraying happens. 'Outdoor use of insecticides, it's perhaps better than nothing and the truth is that the community wants to see something happening. 'That's a very visible intervention but the reality is, there's a very limited evidence base for its impact.' Mosquitoes continually exposed to insecticides would also evolve resistance, Devine said. The World Mosquito Programme infects mosquitos with a naturally occurring bacteria called Wolbachia, which stops viruses like dengue growing in the mosquitoes' bodies. 'It's been trialled in New Caledonia, where it's been extremely successful,' Devine said. 'In the years since, the mosquito releases have been made by the World Mosquito Program, there's been no dengue epidemics where once they were extremely common.' He said genetically modified mosquitoes were also being looked at as a solution. 'That's a different kind of strategy, where you release large numbers of mosquitoes which have been modified in a way which means when those males interact with the local mosquito female population, the resulting offspring are not viable, and so that can crash the entire population.' When asked if that could collapse the entire aedes aegypti mosquito population, Devine said he wouldn't be 'particularly worried about decimating numbers'. 'People often refer to it as the kind of cockroach of the mosquito world. 'It's very, very closely adapted to the human population in most parts of its range. The species evolved in Africa and has since, spread throughout the world. It's not a particularly important mosquito for many ecosystems.'
Scoop
18 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
Increased Movement Of People Making Dengue Outbreaks More Common, Says Mosquito Expert
Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist Dengue fever outbreaks have been surging in recent decades but new initiatives like infecting mosquitos with bacteria or genetic modification could dramatically slow the spread. According to the World Health Organization there was just over 500,0000 reported cases in 2000 - ballooning to 5.2 million in 2019. Last year, there were 14 million dengue cases - a record number dwarfing the previous 2023 high of 6.5 million. This year, there's been 2.5 million. Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands have all declared dengue outbreaks. Samoa, Fiji and Tonga have each had at least one death from the viral infection. Greg Devine from the World Mosquito Program said increased globalisation is making outbreaks more common. Devine said mosquitos that carry the virus "hitchhike around the world" and the increased movement of people is increasing those infected by dengue. Devine said a lot of people also don't have immunity. "They don't have any protection against it because they've never been exposed to it before," he said. "Dengue comes in four different serotypes, so just because you've had one doesn't mean you can't get another." He said climate change was having an increasing impact. "We are hotter and wetter than we've ever been before and that's great for mosquitoes. It also means that the virus in mosquitoes is replicating more rapidly." The aedes aegypti mosquito - which carries dengue - is considered a tropical or subtropical mosquito, but Devine said warmer weather would also increase the mosquitoes' range of where it inhabits. In the Pacific, health ministries are trying to stamp out mosquito breeding grounds and are spraying insecticides outside. But Devine said doing so has had limited success in reducing the spread. He said the aedes aegypti mosquito is "completely reliant upon humans for its blood meals" which meant it liked to stay indoors, not outdoors where the majority of the spraying happens. "Outdoor use of insecticides, it's perhaps better than nothing and the truth is that the community wants to see something happening. "That's a very visible intervention but the reality is, there's a very limited evidence base for its impact." Mosquitoes continually exposed to insecticides would also evolve resistance, Devine said. The World Mosquito Programme infects mosquitos with a naturally occurring bacteria called Wolbachia, which stops viruses like dengue growing in the mosquitoes' bodies. "It's been trialled in New Caledonia, where it's been extremely successful," Devine said. "In the years since, the mosquito releases have been made by the World Mosquito Program, there's been no dengue epidemics where once they were extremely common." He said genetically modified mosquitoes were also being looked at as a solution. "That's a different kind of strategy, where you release large numbers of mosquitoes which have been modified in a way which means when those males interact with the local mosquito female population, the resulting offspring are not viable, and so that can crash the entire population." When asked if that could collapse the entire aedes aegypti mosquito population, Devine said he wouldn't be "particularly worried about decimating numbers". "People often refer to it as the kind of cockroach of the mosquito world. "It's very, very closely adapted to the human population in most parts of its range. The species evolved in Africa and has since, spread throughout the world. It's not a particularly important mosquito for many ecosystems."
Miami Herald
26-03-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Dengue fever on the rise. What to know about the mosquito-borne illness in Florida
The U.S. is on alert for dengue fever during the busy spring break season as cases of the mosquito-borne illness continue to rise globally. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico are some of the places that have seen a rise in dengue cases, an illness that is known to cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, severe muscle aches, and sometimes, a rash. Infected female aedes aegypti mosquitoes spread dengue to people through bites. And some parts of the U.S. are home to the pesky insects, including Florida. 'Globally, dengue cases have increased substantially in the last 5 years, with the most pronounced increases occurring in the Americas,' which last year reported record-breaking number of infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, more than 760,000 dengue cases have been recorded in 2025, with 'many countries reporting higher-than-usual number of dengue cases in 2024 and 2025,' the CDC said this week in a health update. Dengue activity also 'remains high' in some parts of the U.S, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are battling ongoing dengue outbreaks. The federal health agency is asking doctors to monitor for possible dengue symptoms in patients who were recently in areas known to have cases of dengue and to also 'take a thorough travel history' of patients with sudden fever. The CDC is also recommending doctors 'advise patients who plan to travel to take steps to prevent mosquito bites during travel and for 3 weeks after returning, especially if traveling to an area with frequent or continuous dengue transmission.' Are there dengue cases in Florida and other popular spring break destinations? This year, the U.S. has recorded more than 1,150 cases of dengue, most of which were reported in Puerto Rico, which declared a public health emergency over the mosquito-borne illness in early 2024, according to the CDC. Puerto Rico has recorded at least 1,012 cases of dengue so far in 2025, followed by Florida, 50, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which has recorded 40 cases, federal and state data shows. Where are the dengue cases coming from? Dengue is a common mosquito-borne illness in many countries, including the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Islands, according to the CDC. And the federal public health agency says its detected higher case counts or 'higher-than-expected number of dengue cases' among U.S. travelers returning from several countries, including Cuba, Colombia, Panama, Brazil and Mexico. In Florida, which has recorded 50 dengue cases this year, all but one are considered travel-related, which means the person traveled to a 'dengue-endemic area' in the two weeks prior to experiencing symptoms, state data shows. And more than half of the state's recorded dengue cases involve Miami-Dade residents who had recently traveled elsewhere. Most Floridians who got sick with dengue this year had recently traveled to Cuba, according to the state's most recent surveillance report. In February, Miami-Dade also recorded the state's only confirmed 'locally acquired' dengue case for 2025. The CDC, in its health update, said it expects the U.S. will see an increase risk for travel-related and locally acquired dengue cases in the coming months due to spring and summer travel coinciding 'with the peak season for dengue in many countries.' In Miami-Dade County, for example, mosquito season mirrors hurricane season, and runs from June through November, Dr. John-Paul Mutebi, division director of Miami-Dade's Mosquito Control, previously told the Miami Herald. Here's what else to know: Can you get sick from any mosquito bite? Mosquitoes are common year-round in Florida. But not all of them can get you sick. Some of them are annoying pests. Others can carry disease like dengue, West Nile and Zika. Of the 49 known species in Miami-Dade County, only a few are considered nuisances to humans, according to mosquito inspectors. One of the species that concerns county officials most is Aedes aegypti, or yellow fever mosquito, which can be found across Miami-Dade and can spread Zika, dengue and yellow fever. What are dengue fever symptoms? Most people infected with dengue don't get symptoms, and many recover within a week, according to the Mayo Clinic. But some do get seriously ill and die. People with severe cases of dengue fever can experience severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty or rapid breathing, internal bleeding and organ failure, according to the Mayo Clinic. 'Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include sudden onset of fever, severe headache, eye pain, muscle and joint pain,' and bleeding, according to the Florida Department of Health. Some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea. The only way to know if you're sick with dengue is to get tested. How can you treat it? The good news is that unlike the flu, dengue is not contagious and can only spread to people by bites from infected mosquitoes. The bad news is that there's no specific treatment for dengue fever. If you do get sick with dengue, the CDC recommends resting as much as possible, staying hydrated and take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help with fever. Avoid taking 'ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin because because they may cause bleeding in more severe cases,' as the Herald has previously reported. Tips to reduce your risk of dengue infection The best way to reduce your risk of dengue infection is to avoid being bit by the pesky bloodsuckers: Here are tips: ▪ Wear EPA-approved long-sleeve shirts if planning to be outside. And wear pants and socks, too. This may sound blasphemous, especially for those who want to get a tan or were planning to have a 'hot girl summer.' But if you want to reduce a risk of a bite, leave the shorts, tanks and sandals at home. And make sure to drink lots of water and avoid being out in the sun during the hottest time of the day. You don't want to get heat exhaustion or another heat-related illness. ▪ Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents. The repellents should have DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535. ▪ Clean out rain gutters. You don't want the gutters clogged with branches and other debris that could make it easier for rain to pool. Check containers, pots, buckets, toys, plastic covers and other items in and around your home to make sure there's no standing water too. Remember, standing water is a mosquito's breeding ground. ▪ Change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools and potted plant trays at least once a week, according to the EPA. And if you have a swimming pool, make sure to keep the water treated and circulating. ▪ Replace outdoor lights with yellow 'bug lights.' These lights are not repellents, but they tend to attract fewer mosquitoes, according to the EPA.
