Items of Public Health Interest

How mosquitoes find a victim.

Anyone who’s ever felt the subtle sting of a mosquito bite and delivered a sharp slap to the affected area has probably wondered: How are mosquitoes so good at hunting down humans? The moment we step outside, it seems, they arrive en masse, ready to suck nutrient-rich blood from their next victim. Researchers used gene-editing technology in an attempt to… Continue reading How mosquitoes find a victim.

Learn how insecticide resistance impacts infection prevention and control

On this three-week course, you’ll examine the rise of insecticide resistant mosquitoes and the resultant need for a new approach in the world’s fight against malaria. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/the-resistant-mosquito-staying-ahead-of-the-game-in-the-fight-against-malaria

Global, regional, and national dengue burden from 1990 to 2017

The global burden of dengue is high, but poorly quantified and likely under-reported. Almost three million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were lost to dengue in 2017: an over 100% increase since 1990 Using the methods of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors study, Zeng et al. characterized the dengue burden in 195 countries… Continue reading Global, regional, and national dengue burden from 1990 to 2017

Realtime Tracking and Forecasting of Outbreak Risk of Dengue, Zika and other Aedes-transmitted Diseases

AeDeS: a next‐generation monitoring and forecasting system for environmental suitability of Aedes‐borne disease transmission,

New malaria vector could bring malaria back to Africa

Scientists say an invasive mosquito species was likely responsible for a large outbreak of malaria in Ethiopia earlier this year By MARIA CHENG AP Scientists say an invasive mosquito species was likely responsible for a large malaria outbreak in Ethiopia earlier this year, a finding that experts called a worrying sign that progress against the disease is… Continue reading New malaria vector could bring malaria back to Africa

The rise of mosquito-borne diseases.

According to the United Nations, since 2007, more people globally were living in cities than at any other time in history. In Africa, projections show that by 2030 the urban population will rise to 824 million – an increase of almost 25 percent compared with today and by 2035, more people on the continent will be… Continue reading The rise of mosquito-borne diseases.

Multi-insecticide resistant malaria vectors in the field remain susceptible to malathion, despite the presence of Ace1 point mutations

Insecticide resistance in mosquitoes threatens the success of malaria vector control. Identifying the underlying mechanisms enables optimization of strategies. The molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in three mosquito field populations from southern Côte d’Ivoire was investigated. https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1009963

Benin, Uganda and Rwanda eliminate human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), otherwise known as sleeping sickness, is a life-threatening disease that afflicts poor rural populations. Carried by tsetse flies, the disease has long been a curse for communities in West, Central and East Africa, where two different variants of the disease were rife. Now, countries and communities are fighting back with vigour… Continue reading Benin, Uganda and Rwanda eliminate human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem

With malaria one of the biggest killers of children under 5, the world’s first vaccine against a parasite is a major breakthrough for child health

UNICEF has awarded a contract for the first ever supply of a malaria vaccine to GSK with a value of up to USD 170 million[1]. The landmark award will lead to 18 million doses of RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) being available over the next three years, potentially saving thousands of lives every year. Details at: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/millions-more-children-benefit-malaria-vaccine-unicef-secures-supply

Insecticide treated bed nets contribute to resistance in bed bug populations

The use of insecticidal bed nets (IBNs) to prevent mosquito bites in malaria-endemic communities can result in resistance developing in secondary pests like bed bugs, according to research published in Parasites and Vectors. Decreased efficacy against bed bugs and other non-mosquito pests may result in misuse of both mosquito adulticides and bed nets, hampering efforts to stop… Continue reading Insecticide treated bed nets contribute to resistance in bed bug populations