CDC
Aedes aegypti: Beyond the Black and White
One look at Aedes aegypti gives an immediate impression of its menacing nature. The telltale dark and white bands on the mosquito’s legs and other body parts bring a sense of foreboding and hardship. Sleek, silent, and stealthy, Ae. aegypti is the primary vector for several important, debilitating, and sometimes fatal human diseases including dengue, Zika virus, yellow fever, and chikungunya. The species is cause for mounting concern on many levels, as its biology, behavior, and ability to adapt have made Aedes aegypti one of the most pervasive and daunting public health challenges in the modern world.
The first mosquito ever associated with the spread of disease, Ae. aegypti is also the most studied of all mosquito species.1 From its humble beginnings in the African wild to a footprint that spans the globe, this durable and opportunistic insect has become a formidable opponent of vector control efforts worldwide.
Tick Season Troubles
Even while staying six feet apart, people venturing outside during quarantine are being exposed to other diseases: those carried by ticks. Ticks don’t obey any …
Social Media as an Epidemiological Tool
In public health, government entities often communicate directly with the public on social media platforms. In fact, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) …
A History of Zika Virus in Brazil
KNOWNS AND UNKNOWNS ABOUT THE ZIKA VIRUS EPIDEMIC The Zika virus is transmitted by container breeding mosquito species that are found in tropical and subtropical …
Top 5 Takeaways from Our Interview with Dr. Tracey McNamara
In mid-July, Valent BioSciences had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Tracey McNamara, DVM, DACVP, and Professor of Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at …
Miami-Dade Takes on Zika with Integrated Vector Management
In late July, months after news of the Zika outbreak in South America started to make headlines in the U.S., the first locally acquired Zika …