mosquito

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Illness That Caused 'Global Panic' Never Really Went Away

There's still no vaccine for mosquito-born Zika that struck in 2015; experts worry of future outbreak

(Newser) - In 2016, the United Nations declared that the Zika virus—a mosquito-borne illness that can cause serious neurological effects in newborns with infected moms— was no longer a worldwide emergency . But the virus didn't actually disappear: In fact, Medriva deems it a "silent threat still lurking." The...

5th State Reports Spread of Dengue
5th State Reports
Spread of Dengue

5th State Reports Spread of Dengue

California logs an unwelcome first with local transmission

(Newser) - California has reported its first locally acquired case of dengue, a mosquito-borne virus typically associated with tropical environments—part of a trend that has seen the virus spread in new areas affected by climate change. A person living in Pasadena tested positive for dengue despite no recent travel history, indicating...

Rare Disease Carried by Mosquitoes Surfaces, Killing 1

Another person in Alabama has been infected

(Newser) - Health officials have warned about a rare virus that can be transmitted by mosquitoes after its detection in distant states and the death of an infected person in Alabama. Two people became ill there, Live Science reports, with eastern equine encephalitis, which can inflame the brain. Both cases were in...

If Mosquito Season Feels Longer, That's Because It Is
We Now Have
More 'Mosquito Days'
new study

We Now Have More 'Mosquito Days'

Survey finds most parts of US see more 'mosquito days' compared to decades ago

(Newser) - A new report by Climate Central has alarming news for anyone who has ever found themselves on the receiving end of a flurry of mosquito bites: Warming temps are giving the pests more time throughout the year to find new sources of blood to feed on. As Georgia Public Broadcasting...

Invasive New Mosquito Species Is Spreading in Florida
Florida Has a
New, 'Concerning'
Mosquito Species
in case you missed it

Florida Has a New, 'Concerning' Mosquito Species

There are a lot of unknowns with Culex lactator

(Newser) - With around 90 species of mosquito already buzzing around Florida, is one more going to make much of a difference? Scientists say they just don't know, which makes it important to track the spread of Culex lactator, an invasive species normally found in Central America and northern South America,...

You Can Rid Your Yard of Mosquitoes Without Spraying

The AP offers some tips

(Newser) - Life comes with lots of little annoyances, few of them littler or more annoying than mosquitoes. Although it may seem difficult to avoid mosquitoes, the AP offers some ways to reduce or eliminate them from your yard and garden—without resorting to insecticidal foggers or sprays (which the AP points...

Key to Cracking Burglary Case: Two Squashed Mosquitoes

Police in China make a DNA match in blood analysis

(Newser) - Police in China say two mosquitoes helped them crack a burglary case in Fujian province. As the South China Morning Post explains, authorities in Fuzhou spotted two squashed mosquitoes on the wall of an apartment that had been burglarized. They tested the blood and found a DNA match for a...

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Work as Intended
Genetically Modified
Mosquitoes Work as Intended
in case you missed it

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Work as Intended

In Florida, engineered male insects mate with females, and offspring was doomed

(Newser) - Results are in from a pilot study in Florida, where millions of genetically engineered mosquitoes were released into the wild. Some referred to it as the “ Jurassic Park ” experiment when it was announced last year, but—so far—everything is going to plan, according to UK biotech firm...

A 'Miraculous' Bacteria Makes Mosquitoes Less Fearsome

The Wolbachia bacteria cut dengue infections 77% in study

(Newser) - Scientists say a "miraculous" bacteria has shown great promise in tackling the threat from one of the world's most dangerous creatures: the Aedes aegypti mosquito. In a large-scale randomized trial in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, the use of mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria cut cases of...

Mosquito Species in Florida Raises Disease Worries

It's been known to carry yellow fever virus in Brazil, though there's no sign of it in US

(Newser) - A species of mosquito recently found in Florida is causing concern about the spread of disease, including yellow fever. Aedes scapularis has been present in Latin America and the Caribbean and has been discovered in Brazil to be infected with diseases including the yellow fever virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis...

After Hurricane, Mosquitoes Are Killing Livestock

'They're vicious little suckers'

(Newser) - In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, parts of southern Louisiana have become a mosquito paradise—and hell for livestock. Swarms of thousands of mosquitoes have killed hundreds of cows, along with deer, horses, and other animals, USA Today reports. The insects have been draining blood from the animals, leaving them...

Plan to Release 750M GMO Mosquitoes Gets Go Ahead
Plan to Release
750M GMO
Mosquitoes
Gets Go Ahead
in case you missed it

Plan to Release 750M GMO Mosquitoes Gets Go Ahead

Florida Keys residents aren't happy about 'Jurassic Park' experiment

(Newser) - Male mosquitoes don't bite people—but Florida Keys residents still have concerns about plans to release 750 million of them in a mosquito control project starting next year. The plan to release the genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes received final approval from local authorities Tuesday, causing an outcry from...

Plan to Release GMO Mosquitoes Moves Ahead

Florida approves experiment, though a last hurdle remains

(Newser) - A plan to set loose 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida and Texas will move forward despite concerns from environmentalists who liken it to a "Jurassic Park experiment." The non-biting male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes developed by British biotechnology company Oxitec contain a protein, passed to biting female...

A Consequence of Empty Buildings? Bigger Mosquitoes
Poor Neighborhoods Have
an Unusual Health Threat
new study

Poor Neighborhoods Have an Unusual Health Threat

Study finds they have bigger mosquitoes

(Newser) - A new study out of Baltimore highlights an unusual health threat: Low-income neighborhoods with abandoned buildings have bigger mosquitoes. Researchers found this to be the case after an extensive block-by-block comparison in Baltimore, they report in the Journal of Medical Entomology . Bigger mosquitoes breed more, bite more, and live longer,...

Mosquito Experiment Has a Surprise Outcome
Mosquito Experiment
Has a Surprise Outcome
in case you missed it

Mosquito Experiment Has a Surprise Outcome

Instead of wiping them out, genetic engineering may have made them more 'robust'

(Newser) - The idea made sense on paper: Introduce male mosquitoes genetically engineered to be sterile into the bug population and watch the insect numbers drop. As New Atlas reports, that's generally what happened in a Brazil experiment—but only for about 18 months. At that point, the numbers rebounded, say...

In This State, 2nd Death From a Mosquito-Borne Killer

Elderly man dies in Massachusetts from Eastern equine encephalitis

(Newser) - A second person has died in Massachusetts from a rare mosquito-carried virus. CNN reports the patient, said by the state's Department of Health to be a man from Bristol County in his 70s, was the commonwealth's 10th confirmed human case of Eastern equine encephalitis, caused by a virus...

Woman Got Mosquito Bite, Ended Up Dead
She Fell Ill After Mosquito
Bite, Was Dead 6 Days Later
in case you missed it

She Fell Ill After Mosquito Bite, Was Dead 6 Days Later

4 people have come down with the rare eastern equine encephalitis in Massachusetts this month

(Newser) - Laurie Sylvia started feeling sick last Monday. Less than a week later, the Massachusetts 59-year-old was dead, killed by a rare mosquito-borne illness. Sylvia, who died Sunday, is the fourth person in the state to contract eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) this month. That's notable considering an average of just...

A Mosquito Study Started as 'a Lark.' Then It Worked

Scientists discover that our diet drugs work on the insects, keep them from feeding

(Newser) - Human diet pills could one day stop mosquitoes from feasting on you in the night. Scientists have given drugs used on people to trick blood-thirsty mosquitoes into thinking they've already had their fill of blood. The researchers hope the technique will eventually be used to control the spread of...

Mosquitoes Help Cops Subdue Fleeing Suspect

Alleged getaway driver in booze theft surrenders in a Wisconsin cornfield

(Newser) - First came the crime-fighting cows . Now, the mosquitoes. Police in Wisconsin's Fond du Lac County say they arrested a fleeing suspect who surrendered in a cornfield because he couldn't take the swarming mosquitoes anymore, reports ABC7 Chicago . "When we handcuffed him he asked us to wipe his...

Pet Meds, Laser Fences Could Tackle Insect-Borne Diseases

Scientists say isoxazolines could prevent up to 97% of Zika cases

(Newser) - Scientists are testing new ways to prevent the spread of insect-borne diseases like Zika and malaria, one of which involves sharing medication with your dog. New research funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation suggests drugs included in anti-flea and tick medications for pets could prevent 97% of Zika...

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