Dengue Fever: Unraveling the Mysteries of a Mosquito-borne Menace

Dengue Fever: Unraveling the Mysteries of a Mosquito-borne Menace

In the vibrant arena of Earth’s biodiversity, one of the most enigmatic and perilous phenomena is the transmission of diseases by organisms. The perpetrators are often tiny creatures that stealthily invade our bodies, acting as transporters for deadly pathogens. One such diminutive creature is the ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito, the primary vector of dengue fever.

Infected female malaria mosquitoes more attracted to human odour

Unlocking the manipulation of mosquitoes by malaria parasites – Female mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites are significantly more attracted to human odour than uninfected mosquitoes. This was demonstrated in a laboratory setting in which infected female Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto mosquitoes were attracted to human odours three times more than mosquitoes that were not infected with the malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasite.

Bed nets use could eradicate malaria

Net advantage — Study finds use of bed nets by 75 percent of population could eradicate malaria – Malaria, the leading cause of death among children in Africa, could be eliminated if three-fourths of the population used insecticide-treated bed nets, according to a new study from the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS).

Cell phone data helps to curb spread of malaria

Using cell phone data to curb the spread of malaria — Study in Kenya finds measuring movement of people could lead to more effective ways to control spread of disease – New research that combines cell phone data from 15 million people in Kenya with detailed information on the regional incidence of malaria has revealed, on the largest scale so far, how human travel patterns contribute to the disease’s spread. The findings indicate that malaria, in large part, emanates from Kenya’s Lake Victoria region and spreads east, chiefly toward the capital, Nairobi.

Health Newstrack