I’m excited to share my eBook, Reimagining Vector Control: A Modern Perspective on Forgotten Giants. This book dives into the pioneering minds of vector control history—Ronald Ross, Fred Soper, William Gorgas, Israel Kligler, and others—and reimagines how their groundbreaking work could be applied today. The rise of mosquito-borne diseases requires fresh and innovative solutions. This… Continue reading Reimagining Vector Control: A Modern Perspective on Forgotten Giants
Dead kissing bugs could spell trouble for dogs in Texas. A study published in October in the Journal of Medical Entomology shows that Trypanosoma cruzi—the parasite that causes Chagas disease—can survive in dead kissing bugs (Triatominae) even within insecticide-treated dog kennels. This discovery suggests an unexpected infection route: dogs could contract Chagas by ingesting these deceased, parasite-laden bugs in… Continue reading Chagas Disease Parasite Can Survive in Dead Kissing Bugs, Study Finds
In recent years, new interventions have been developed against malaria, including vaccines that currently are being rolled out for young children in regions where the disease is prevalent.https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-researchers-discover-novel-class-anti-malaria-antibodies
Used tires have evolved into a significant public health concern, because they offer mosquitoes a humid, secluded breeding ground. Researchers in Louisiana investigated how discarded tires intersect with socioeconomic factors such as population density, income, and urban heat islands to contribute to mosquito-borne disease. https://entomologytoday.org/2024/08/28/tire-piles-heat-population-density-drive-mosquito-abundance/
August 20th is World Mosquito Day, a day that commemorates Sir Ronald Ross’s demonstration in 1897 that a female anopheline mosquito is responsible for transmitting malaria to approximately half the world’s human population. Though the use of quinine to treat malaria provided some relief, his discovery paved the way for the development of vector control… Continue reading World Mosquito Day
Despite the benefits of keeping bees, past studies have shown that honeybees, which are not native to the United States, can have negative effects on the environment. They compete with native bees, spread diseases and pollinate plants less efficiently. Now, new research from scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) suggests honeybee pollination may also lead to… Continue reading Something to think about
Some mosquitoes buzzing around parts of Australia could be ferrying dangerous cargo from possums to people: flesh-eating bacteria. Of 13 mosquitoes from that species that had recently fed on an animal, two had sucked blood from both a ringtail possum and a person. That’s a small number, but such mosquitoes are probably rare, given that… Continue reading Mosquitoes and possums may spread a flesh-eating disease in Australia
Malaria–climate relationships in Ethiopia are complex, unravelling them requires good climate and malaria data (as well as data on potential confounders) and an understanding of the regional and local climate system. The development of climate informed early warning systems must, therefore, target a specific region and season when predictability is high and where the climate… Continue reading El Niño and Malaria in Ethiopia
Mosquitoes and their associated diseases have impacted humanity throughout history. However, proof that mosquitoes could transmit pathogens and get people sick only occurred relatively recently, in the late 19th century. Until then, doctors and other public health practitioners attributed some mosquito-transmitted diseases to other causes such as miasma, or bad air. More of this story from… Continue reading Integrated vector management to protect humans and animals
European scientists say more frequent heatwaves and flooding, and longer, warmer summers, have created more favorable conditions for the bugs. They are calling for better measures to control and protect against mosquitoes. The European CDC report suggests this year, the Aedes albopictus mosquito (known to carry dengue and chikungunya) “established” itself in 13 countries in… Continue reading Vector-borne diseases risk increasing in Europe
