dengue fever

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With Hundreds Hospitalized, Puerto Rico Declares Epidemic

More than 500 dengue cases have been reported there in 2024

(Newser) - Puerto Rico's health secretary declared an epidemic on Monday following a spike in dengue cases. The US territory of 3.2 million people has reported at least 549 cases so far this year, compared with a total of 1,293 cases for all of last year. The majority of...

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...

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...

Dengue Fever Outbreak Hits Hawaii

10 cases reported so far

(Newser) - Bad news for anyone planning to escape the cold weather in Hawaii: The Big Island has seen 10 confirmed cases of dengue fever recently, West Hawaii Today reports. Both residents and visitors have been afflicted, with symptoms coming on any time from mid-September through last week. Dengue fever is not...

Next in GMO: Mosquitoes?
 Next in GMO: Mosquitoes? 

Next in GMO: Mosquitoes?

FDA is reviewing whether to unleash them in Florida Keys

(Newser) - No word on whether "annoying buzzing" can be genetically eliminated, but the FDA is looking at whether it will allow genetically modified mosquitoes to be unleashed in the Florida Keys, in the name of stopping the spread of Dengue and chikungunya viruses. As the AP reports, British researchers have...

Brazil Unleashes 10K 'Good' Mosquitoes

They're infected with a bacteria that acts as a vaccine against Dengue fever

(Newser) - On the heels of similar efforts in Asia, Brazil is releasing 10,000 mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria in the hopes of halting the spread of dengue fever. Found in 60% of insects, Wolbachia acts like a vaccine against the virus, preventing it from multiplying in the carrier's...

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Battle Dengue

Malaysian scientists to release males into wild to breed

(Newser) - Malaysia could be the first country in Asia to use genetically modified mosquitoes to battle a rise in dengue fever, government authorities said today. The program calls for genetically engineered male mosquitoes to be released into the wild that would mate with females and produce offspring that live shorter lives,...

Forget Swine Flu— 5 Pandemics to Fear

(Newser) - While the world panics over swine flu, many far more serious outbreaks lie in wait, reports Foreign Policy. Here are some you won’t see on TV—yet:  
  • Cholera: The deadly diarrheal infection is rampant in Africa, with infections shooting up 96% in 2006. The current outbreak in Zimbabwe
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8 Stories