Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
Health

5 Things To Know About The Mosquito Villain In Zika Outbreaks

The Canadian Press, 27 Jan, 2016 01:24 PM
    NEW YORK — Behind the tropical disease outbreaks that have exploded in Latin America is a tiny menace that just won't go away.
     
    It's called the Aedes aegypti (AYE'-dees uh-GYP'-tie), a species of mosquito that has played a villainous role in public health history and defeated attempts to eradicate it from the New World. It can spread a virus called Zika, which is suspected in a surge of birth defects in Brazil.
     
    Five things to know about the bug:
     
    FIRST IN AFRICA
     
    Aedes aegypti is a small, dark, hot-weather mosquito with white markings and banded legs. Scientists believe the species originated in Africa, but came to the Americas on slave ships. It's continued to spread through shipping and airplanes. Now it's found through much of the world, including the southern United States.
     
     
    ONCE YELLOW FEVER MOSQUITO
     
    Early in the 20th century, scientists showed it was the engine behind devastating yellow fever outbreaks. It became known as the yellow fever mosquito, although that name has been used less often since a successful vaccine was developed against yellow fever. Since then, it's also been identified as a carrier for other tropical illnesses such as dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika fever. Scientists are investigating whether other types of mosquitoes are spreading Zika in Latin America and the Caribbean, too.
     
    A CITY DWELLER
     
    Aedes aegypti is the primary spreader of Zika and some other tropical diseases, largely because of its unusually cozy relationship with people. While other species thrive in more rural areas, or at least in parks and gardens, this is a domesticated species — sort of a housecat mosquito — accustomed to living in apartment buildings and city centres. It prefers biting people to animals and likes to feed indoors, during daylight hours. Also, it is a hardy bug that can be particularly challenging to get rid of.
     
     
    KILLED OFF, IT CAME BACK
     
    In the early 20th century, many countries developed programs to destroy all Aedes aegypti mosquitoes through spraying chemicals and other measures. By 1970, it was eradicated from much of South America — including Brazil. But many mosquito-control programs were cut back. Reasons included budget cuts, and concerns about the use of some insecticides, and the yellow fever vaccine made the mosquito's elimination less critical.
     
    The species roared back. It played a key role in the reemergence of dengue fever in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the recent spread of chikungunya and Zika virus.
     
    GOING FOR BLOOD
     
    Female mosquitoes drink human blood for nutrients used in making eggs. After a female bites an infected person, it can spread the virus through its saliva to its next human victim. Some scientists think Zika may have arrived in Brazil in 2014, carried by visitors attending World Cup soccer games. Perhaps one or more infected visitors were bitten by mosquitoes and started the chain reaction, said Jeffrey Powell, a Yale University mosquito expert who works in Brazil.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Check Your Weight Once A Week To Lose Fat!

    Check Your Weight Once A Week To Lose Fat!
    It may seem a bit bizarre but researchers have found that how often you step on the scale to measure weight is linked to weight loss - the more is the frequency, the faster you slim down.

    Check Your Weight Once A Week To Lose Fat!

    New Setback For HIV Cure Efforts; 6 Transplants Didn't Work Like The Berlin Patient's Did

    New Setback For HIV Cure Efforts; 6 Transplants Didn't Work Like The Berlin Patient's Did
    Researchers are reporting another disappointment for efforts to cure infection with the AIDS virus. Six patients given blood-cell transplants similar to one that cured a man known as "the Berlin patient" have failed, and all six patients died.

    New Setback For HIV Cure Efforts; 6 Transplants Didn't Work Like The Berlin Patient's Did

    Ebola, Enterovirus, Errors: Experts Say 2014 Was Not The Best Of Times For Public Health

    Ebola, Enterovirus, Errors: Experts Say 2014 Was Not The Best Of Times For Public Health
    NEW YORK — Health officials are celebrating some important victories in 2014, and Time magazine even named Ebola fighters the persons of the year. Nevertheless, this was a black-eye year for public health.

    Ebola, Enterovirus, Errors: Experts Say 2014 Was Not The Best Of Times For Public Health

    Start yoga to cut heart disease risk

    Start yoga to cut heart disease risk
    If you are unable to hit the gym or go on a morning walk, begin yoga at home to cut your cardiovascular disease risk....

    Start yoga to cut heart disease risk

    Do not consume unnecessary antibiotics

    Do not consume unnecessary antibiotics
    Contrary to popular perception, researchers have found that consuming an unnecessary amount of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic resistance, a major public health concern...

    Do not consume unnecessary antibiotics

    Skipping meals make kids obese

    Skipping meals make kids obese
    Children who skip any of the main meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner - and cling on to sugary foods are more likely to have excess body fat and an increased...

    Skipping meals make kids obese