Brazil Faces Surge in Dengue Fever Cases and Vaccine Shortage
Brazil is facing a significant surge in dengue fever cases, prompting a state of emergency and concerns about the country’s ability to combat the disease. The approval of the Qdenga vaccine offers hope, but limited availability has hindered widespread immunization. With a shortage of doses and a record number of deaths, the country is grappling with the impact of the climate crisis on disease proliferation.
UMass Amherst Researcher Leading Project to Determine Mosquito Age for Improved Pesticide Strategies and Disease Control
UMass Amherst researcher, Lili He, leads a project to determine the age of mosquitoes to improve pesticide strategies and combat mosquito-borne diseases. The $1.71 million NIH-funded project aims to develop a novel approach to age-grade mosquitoes, addressing the current lack of accurate and cost-effective methods. The multidisciplinary team includes experts in analytical development, mosquito biology, biochemistry, field studies, and machine learning modeling, with the ultimate goal of developing a reliable method for age-grading mosquitoes to assess disease risk and facilitate more effective mosquito-control strategies.
Dengue Fever Surges in Thailand with Over 8,000 Cases in January 2024
Dengue fever is on the rise in Thailand, with over 8,000 reported cases in January 2024. The Disease Control Department (DCD) has issued a warning, urging the public to take precautions against mosquito bites to prevent the spread of the disease. Dr. Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn revealed that the number of dengue cases surged by 91.25% compared to the same period in 2023, with 13 deaths reported. The majority of affected individuals were children between the ages of five and 14, with the southern and central provinces of Thailand reporting the highest number of cases.
Study Finds West Nile Virus in Europe Associated with Agricultural Activities, Urbanization, and Bird Migration
West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne disease, has been found to be strongly associated with agricultural activities, urbanization, and bird migration in Europe, according to a recent modeling study published in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by researchers from the University…