Tag Archives: mosquitoes

Genetic Breakthrough Enables Malaria-Resistant Mosquitoes to Clear Crucial Test

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Research conducted on Anopheles mosquitoes, native to Tanzania, shows promising results in malaria control.

James Gathany/CDC via AP/Alamy

A genetic technology known as gene drive has the potential to aid in malaria prevention by transferring genes to wild mosquitoes that inhibit parasite transmission. Recent tests in a Tanzanian lab have indicated that one specific gene drive could be effective if released within the country.

“This technology is poised to be transformative,” states George Christofides from Imperial College London.

Typically, a portion of an organism’s DNA is passed to only half of its offspring due to the halving of DNA in eggs or sperm. By enhancing this inheritance rate using gene drives, small segments of DNA can proliferate swiftly within a population, even if they do not confer any evolutionary advantages.

Many natural gene drives function through various means, potentially even in some human communities. In 2013, scientists engineered an artificial gene drive utilizing CRISPR gene-editing technology, allowing DNA segments to be copied from one chromosome to another.

The objective is to disseminate DNA segments that impede malaria transmission, but the question remains: which segments? Christofides revealed in 2022 that the development of malaria parasites in mosquitoes could be notably curtailed by two small proteins, one derived from honeybees and another from Xenopus. The genes linked to these anti-malarial proteins correspond with those that produce enzymes aiding in blood digestion, so the proteins are synthesized post-blood meal, secreted into the intestine.

However, these tests used lab strains of mosquitoes and malaria pathogens collected decades ago, leaving uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of this method in contemporary Africa.

Currently, Christofides and Dixon Rwetoihera from the Ifakara Health Research Institute in Tanzania have updated local data. The Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, derived from this strategy, produced gene drive components that were maintained separately to prevent spreading, all within a secure setting.

Initial tests revealed significant suppression of malaria parasites collected from infected children, alongside successful gene replication for anti-malarial proteins. “We can now confidently assert this technology has field application potential,” states Christofides.

The forthcoming phase involves releasing mosquitoes that create anti-malarial proteins onto islands in Lake Victoria and monitoring their behavior in a natural setting. Rwetoijela notes that the team is conducting risk assessments and engaging local communities. “Thus far, political and public backing has been robust.”

The expectation is that gene drives will significantly contribute to the eradication of malaria in endemic regions. A. gambiae is the only species responsible for malaria transmission, and “gene drives could change the course,” claims Christofides.

Multiple organizations are also exploring gene drives for malaria control, alongside various strategies aimed at managing other pest populations.

Genetically modified mosquitoes have already been deployed in certain countries to manage wild mosquito numbers, but these strategies generally depend on continuously releasing high quantities of insects.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Indulgent Habits Can Make You a Magnet for Mosquitoes

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Mosquitoes may not bite indiscriminately

Hugh Sturrock/Alamy

Individuals who indulge in beer, practice poor hygiene, share beds, and skip sunscreen could be more attractive to mosquitoes, according to a study focused on festival attendees.

In their investigation of mosquito attraction, Sarah Lynn Blanken from Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, along with her team, attended the 2023 Lowlands Festival near Amsterdam. They surveyed 465 festivalgoers on their health habits, dietary choices, hygiene practices, sunscreen usage, substance consumption, blood type, and whether they had slept alone the previous night.

The researchers established a makeshift lab inside a shipping container with mosquitoes that had previously survived 1,700 prisoners of war (Anopheles Stephensi), which are capable of transmitting malaria.

While the mosquitoes sought to land on the participants, they couldn’t actually bite; 20-35 of the insects were placed in transparent plastic containers with perforated dividers to separate the arms of the participants from the mosquitoes.

The team recorded the number of times mosquitoes attempted to land on the arms of the festivalgoers for three minutes, comparing this to cotton pad decoys soaked in glucose.

“Mosquitoes showed a clear preference for individuals consuming hops and grapes, indicating a preference for well-hydrated bodies,” the researchers noted. “Those who drank beer experienced significantly more landings compared to individuals who were sober for at least 12 hours.”

Blanken highlighted, however, that this doesn’t mean she’s extending her beer consumption. “I just rely on long sleeves and insect repellent,” she stated.

The study also indicated that “participants who had companions in their tents the previous night seemed to attract more mosquitoes.” Sunscreen appeared to deter mosquitoes, likely by masking the scent of the skin or acting as a repellent. No evidence was found to suggest that different blood types influenced mosquito attraction or repulsion.

“Our findings indicate that mosquitoes were drawn to individuals who skimped on sunscreen, indulged in beer, and shared beds,” the team concluded. “They have a clear hedonistic preference among us.”

Festival participants place their arms in a partition where mosquitoes can try to land on them, but not actually do it

Roland Festival/National Wetenschapsagenda Netherlands

Cameron Webb from the University of Sydney mentioned that although it was an entertaining study, it involved only one species of mosquito, meaning the findings may not apply to others.

The researchers discovered that only four participants did not attract mosquitoes. “The key takeaway is that nearly all participants were alluring to mosquitoes seeking a blood meal, regardless of other variables,” Webb noted. “The reality is, as long as we focus on mosquito repellents and ponder why mosquitoes bite, we will still get bitten and increase our chances of encountering mosquito-borne diseases.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Mosquitoes Are Poised to Become More Hazardous in the UK and US: Here’s Why

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I woke up with a multitude of itchy red bites. And? Most likely, it’s those pesky mosquitoes that are causing the irritation. While they aren’t the sole culprits for the marks left behind, the redness is actually a reaction to the saliva from those tiny, blood-sucking insects.

Globally, there are around 3,500 mosquito species, including 36 in the UK and over 200 in the US, with only the females being the notorious bloodsuckers.

Mosquitoes are widely recognized as nuisances. Even in regions like the UK and the US, where concerns over diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika are minimal, it’s important to be aware of their potential threats.

However, Professor James Logan urges us to take these creatures seriously. He is the Dean of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s (LSHTM) School of Disease Control and the CEO of Arctech.

“As climate change progresses, more mosquitoes capable of transmitting diseases are encroaching closer to the UK and the US, including not just malaria-carrying mosquitoes but those that spread dengue as well,” he states.

“Currently, there are no active disease outbreaks, but that won’t be the case for long. It’s not a question of ‘if,’ but rather ‘when.’”

According to Logan, the US is “even further ahead” in this regard, with cases of dengue, malaria, and the West Nile virus on the rise.

In May 2025, the UK Health Security Agency reported the first detection of the West Nile virus within British mosquitoes.

Regardless of potential disease threats, mosquito bites tend to be a common nuisance every summer, with scant scientific evidence to support any immediate concerns.

In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) has noted an uptick in visits to pages about “insect bites and stings,” indicating a rise in the number of people reporting bites in recent years.

“The warmer weather might encourage mosquito reproduction and activity, leading to more of them being around,” Logan mentions.

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Physical barriers like mosquito nets, window screens, and appropriate clothing can help protect against bites. – Credit: Holly Wilmes

Why do mosquito bites itch?

As the weather heats up, the mosquito population rises—so what makes their bites so bothersome?

It all boils down to the mosquito’s mouthparts, slender and needle-like, designed for sucking.

“Mosquitoes are drawn to your scent, warmth, and moisture. When they alight on you, they insert their mouthparts into your skin,” Logan explains. “The tip of the mouthpart navigates around, seeking a blood vessel, and once it finds one, it feeds from there.”

In the process of feeding, these unwelcome intruders inject saliva into your bloodstream to prevent clotting and numb pain, allowing them to go undetected.

However, the chemicals they inject can trigger an allergic response, resulting in those itchy red welts.

“When bitten by a particular mosquito species for the first time, the reaction is generally mild,” states Logan. “With repeated bites, your body becomes sensitized, and the reactions may become stronger. Continuous exposure can further adapt your immune system.”

Your immune system treats substances like mosquito saliva as threats, prompting white blood cells to produce antibodies. Consequently, your body reacts with redness or swelling during subsequent encounters.

This process is known as sensitization, akin to how allergies develop. Fortunately, regular exposure—termed desensitization—can reduce your response over time.

In seasonal regions, the intermittent summer exposure to mosquitoes means our bodies take longer to acclimatize.

How to keep mosquitoes at bay

Now that we’ve identified the problem, how can we prevent mosquito bites? While closing windows and donning long clothing are effective strategies, they may not be appealing during hot summer days.

You might consider installing insect screens or mosquito nets in your sleeping areas.

“Removing breeding grounds is also crucial,” Logan advises, as mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water—anything deeper than a bottle cap can serve as ideal breeding conditions. Ensure to cover water sources such as flowerpots, buckets, and bird baths, and eliminate any trash or recyclables that might gather water.

In addition, wearing insect repellents is advisable. Logan praises DEET (N,N-diethyl-M-toluamide) as “one of the best repellents available,” affirming its safety when applied according to product instructions.

If you prefer a natural alternative, consider using Lemon Eucalyptus oil, noted also as OLE or PMD. Other options include IR3535 and picaridin.

Some essential oils have shown promise; a 2023 study found that clove, cinnamon, and geraniol oils can be effective.

Despite this, Logan cautions, “reliance solely on natural solutions may not be sufficient.”

If you’re willing to invest further, consider “impregnated” clothing—this doesn’t refer to anything sensational but involves fabric treated with insect repellents or insecticides, typically permethrin.

“We also have plug-in devices that distribute pesticides throughout our homes,” Logan adds, “which can eliminate pests like spiders and flies that venture inside.”

Since mosquitoes are attracted to our body odor, changing our scent can deter them – Credit: Jaromir via Jetty

What to do if bitten

If you’ve already fallen victim to a mosquito bite, here are some tips to manage the situation.

“The first rule is not to scratch,” Logan advises, acknowledging the challenge. “Scratching only risks infection.”

In severe cases, mosquito bites could lead to serious infections, sepsis, or even limb amputation, Logan warns.

If a bite is particularly bothersome, you may consider over-the-counter antihistamines or hydrocortisone creams, although their effectiveness can vary.

“They may work wonders for some, while others experience little relief,” he notes. “Antihistamine creams need to be applied immediately after being bitten due to the rapid production of histamine.”

“Unfortunately, many people delay addressing the bite, making timely intervention essential.”

In summary, Logan emphasizes:

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About our experts

Professor James Logan serves as the Director and Head of Disease Management at the London School of Hygiene (LSHTM). He is associated with Arctech, a spinout from LSHTM. His research focuses on using sensors, insects, and other wildlife as biosensors for disease diagnostics and developing nature-inspired tools for disease surveillance. His team was the first to identify the connection between body odor and malaria infection.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

My Choice of Mosquitoes as the Hero: A New Scientist Book Club Discussion

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An unusual look hero

Arami Stock Photo

Hero Ideas Dengue fever boy Mosquitoes would have appeared in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a dengue outbreak exploded in my hometown of Buenos Aires. Dengue fever spreads all the way Aedes aegypti mosquito. This insect thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and is commonly found in many warm and humid regions of Northern Argentina.

However, in recent decades, global warming has spread to traditionally cold, yet mild climates, such as Buenos Aires and Patagonia. One of my best friends had dengue fever in 2020, but as all media attention was focused on Covid-19, the city’s public hospitals had limited testing and there was no way to get proper diagnosis or treatment. Furthermore, there were no effective vaccines or medications for dengue at the time.

During this unsettling time for my friends and people with dengue in Argentina, US company Modern announced its vaccine against Covid-19 just a few days after the genetic sequence of SARS-COV-2 was issued. This has made me think about the terrible corporate bias in scientific research, as mosquito-borne diseases (dengue, zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, etc.) have killed hundreds of thousands of people over the centuries. In fact, mosquitoes are considered the deadliest animals for humans, according to historians. Timothy Wine Guardkilled more people than anything else in history.

However, these diseases affect people in low-income countries, so there was not enough investment in vaccines or treatments. Meanwhile, biotech companies only needed a few months to develop, patent and sell products that tackle Covid-19.

So, this idea came to me to tell the story of the global Southern pandemic through the lens of the mosquito itself.

Partly inspired by the artists I admire (Franz Kafka, David Cronenberg, Hidosi Hino), I leaned a bit ironically on Latin America’s most commercially popular genre, and I was convinced that the imaginary subtitles of my story should be “the self-capacity of a mosquito.” At the same time, one of the themes of my writing was inhumanity, and I was interested in the challenge of making insects the protagonist of a novel (a genre historically designed to tell the human age, psychology, and stories). How can we achieve this by mimicking and empathy with the human experience, especially insects that are as annoying as mosquitoes?

I became a mosquito and had to adopt that perspective. I have given the famous Frobertian motto.”Madame Bobbery, C’est Moi” And I changed it to my own: Le Moustite, c’est moi.

Ursula K. Le Gin once said The basic property of science fiction is to act as a carrier bag allowing for the transition of ideas from fiction to other scientific and technical discourses. This way, this genre becomes a mutational transition ( Dengue fever boy Between literature and non-literary knowledge.

I’ve always been very grateful for this idea. Because nothing in my work as a writer would please me more than studying topics I had never noticed before.

For this book, I consulted dozens of papers and manuals on entomology, and I became a “mosquito” overnight. It was important to know the details of mosquito anatomy, explain it, and understand how its body works and feels. Therefore, although the main character is inspired by my friend, a man, I discovered that the mosquito that tells the disease is a female.

The female perspective was also guided to investigating how non-mammalian oviparous animals are involved in maternal care. Eggs designed for films by HR Giger alien drawn and classified by the naturalist Ernst Heckel, in his illustrated treatise, Georges Bataille’s The story of the eyes It also fueled this oval obsession.

In this novel, I tried to tell a story about climate change from a perspective that restored human lives more than humans. I hope readers will resonate with my hero.

Dengue fever boy Michel Nieva, translated Published by Serpent’s Tail from the Spanish of Rahul Bery the latest choice for the New Scientist Book Club. Sign up here and read with us

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The ancient origins of London’s underground mutant mosquitoes

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Culex Pipiens f. Molester It is a species of mosquito found in cities around the world

BlickWinkel / Alamy Stock Photo

The shape of mosquitoes associated with the London Underground Railway has evolved to live in human environments long before the birth of the Underground Railway, born at the age of 19.thh century.

Culex Pipiens f. Molester It was found in cities around the world, but was widely known as an underground mosquito in London after World War II.

It is closely related to the chewing shape of the same species of bird, known as Culex Pipiens f. Pipiens, And biologists thought that within the past few centuries the form of molestation had evolved in urban environments.

To learn more about its origins, Lindy McBride Princeton University and her colleagues analyzed the DNA of 790 mosquitoes from 44 countries around the world, including the shapes of Molestus and Pipiens, several closely related species.

The results suggest that rather than occurring in London's tube tunnels, Molestus Mosquito evolved in the Middle East perhaps thousands of years ago. There are three main evidence for this.

First, the morphology of Molestus is genetically closer to the pipiens population in the Mediterranean basin than the pipiens population in Northern Europe. They are such things as these Mediterranean Pipiens mosquitoes, suggesting that one arises from the other.

Additionally, molestation mosquitoes in the Eastern Mediterranean region are more genetically diverse than molestation in underground habitats in northern Europe. “This suggests that they have been in the Eastern Mediterranean for quite some time,” says McBride.

Finally, Pipiens forms do not exist in the Middle East. This makes it much easier to imagine how the ancestors of Molestus Mosquitoes colonized the region and evolved to bite humans in isolation without mating with bird-biting pipingan insects , says McBride.

Based on the team's analysis of genetic variation, it is almost certain that Molestus mosquitoes are much older than previously thought, McBride says. “Our calculations show that it must have been at least 1,000 years ago, and 2000 to 10,000 years ago. [that they evolved]. This is perfectly aligned with the development of agriculture in the Middle East. ”

“Instead of evolving from scratch in urban underground spaces, Molestus was already prepared for urban life thanks to much older adaptations,” she says. “It could have evolved even further since it was once established in a city.”

The busy urban environment could lead to a new hybrid between the bite and human bite forms of birds, which are public health significance, says McBride. “Even if hybridization is rare, these mosquitoes may exhibit intermediate behavior and may exhibit improved ability to communicate through the West Nile. [virus] From birds to humans. ”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Las Vegas sees surge in mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus

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summary

  • A record number of mosquitoes in and around Las Vegas are testing positive for the West Nile virus as mosquito populations across the region soar.
  • Local health officials are urging residents to take precautions to avoid being stung.
  • The situation in Las Vegas is a case study as climate change expands the reach of vector-borne diseases.

Record numbers of mosquitoes are carrying the West Nile virus in and around Las Vegas, prompting local health officials to issue a public warning. Take precautions To avoid getting bitten.

West Nile virus causes fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhea and is fatal in about 1 in 150 cases. There is no vaccine or medicine to treat or prevent the mosquito-borne disease.

In recent weeks, 169 of more than 24,000 mosquito swarms tested for West Nile virus in 25 Southern Nevada ZIP codes tested positive, meaning at least one mosquito in the swarm was carrying the virus. The number of mosquitoes and positive swarms recorded this early in the season broke the regional records for both indicators set in 2019.

“The mosquito population is huge and we've already seen significant numbers of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus,” said Vivek Raman, environmental health inspector for the Southern Nevada Health Department.

Health officials also identified six swimming pools in the Las Vegas area where people had tested positive for the St. Louis encephalitis virus, a mosquito-borne disease that causes potentially fatal inflammation of the brain.

For decades, climate scientists and public health officials have warned that climate change could increase the range of various infectious diseases, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes. The Las Vegas mosquito surge and regional increase in West Nile virus outbreaks provide an important case study in how climate affects human health.

Climate change will increase the global average temperature and precipitation, creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes, who breed in still, warm water. It will also lengthen the warm season, lengthening the mosquito season. These changes will Human exposure risk Even in places where no cases have been recorded before, there is an increased risk of contracting diseases such as West Nile virus.

The first case of West Nile virus was recorded in Las Vegas in 2004, five years after the first case in the United States was recorded in New York City in 1999. The most recent West Nile virus outbreak in Las Vegas was five years ago, when 43 people were infected, and area health officials fear the situation could get even worse this summer.

Spring weather is coming to Nevada and much of the Southwest. It gets warmer Summer heat waves have become more intense in recent decades. In Las Vegas, the average spring temperature is 6.2 degree increase since 1970This month, the city has already A week of record-breaking heatwave.

Rising temperatures in Southern Nevada are creating favorable conditions for mosquitoes, said Nishay Mishra, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University. Additionally, the state's ongoing drought has lowered groundwater levels throughout the Colorado River basin, including Lake Mead, which could unexpectedly benefit the insects.

“Mosquitoes typically breed in places that are moist and hot,” Mishra says, “but in Nevada, when small bodies of water dry up, they create shallow water that's perfect for mosquito breeding.”

Las Vegas' mosquito surge has been enormous: Last year, local health officials counted 6,000 mosquitoes in traps set across Clark County between April and June. This year, the number is already over 24,000.

Most of these mosquitoes are Culex mosquitoes, which are the primary vectors of the West Nile virus. But another mosquito species that doesn't carry the virus, Aedes aegypti, has also become common in Las Vegas. It was first spotted in the area in 2017, and Raman attributes its spread in part to climate change.

Along with climate, human behavior also plays an important role in the spread of vector-borne diseases. Culex mosquitoes and Culex pipiens mosquitoes breed in many Las Vegas backyards, the former breeding in small pools of water such as those left by sprinklers, and the latter often breeding along the surface of untended swimming pools.

Raman said the best ways to prevent infection are to empty water containers outside, take care of swimming pools, wear protective clothing and use bug repellent to prevent insect bites.

Louise Ivers, professor of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the university's Global Health Institute, said situations like the one in Las Vegas will become more common as infectious diseases continue to rise around the world due to climate change.

“We expect to see new infections, the resurgence of old ones, and changes in the transmission patterns of existing ones like West Nile virus,” Ivers said. “We may no longer be able to do things that we were previously free to do without worrying as much about protection from vectors like mosquitoes and ticks.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Harnessing Nature: Releasing Billions of Engineered Mosquitoes into the Wild to Combat Disease

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Dengue fever is currently endemic in 100 countries, putting half of the world’s population at risk. The threat has increased dramatically, with the number of dengue fever cases increasing tenfold between 2000 and 2019, and the number of cases hitting an all-time high in 2023.

Bangladesh, Peru and Burkina Faso have all seen record outbreaks in the past 12 months, while France, Italy and Spain have also reported cases of mosquito-borne dengue fever.

What’s causing this? Scientists say global warming is making space more hospitable to insects, and that climate change is fueling the rise in this mosquito-borne viral disease. As mosquitoes become more common, we expect the time to outbreak of dengue fever to shorten and the transmission season to lengthen.

This is a worrying situation.But that’s what the sponsoring team decided world mosquito program There is a possible solution. They suggest treating mosquitoes with bacteria that can prevent the development of viruses in the body.

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What are the symptoms of dengue fever?

There’s a good reason dengue fever has been labeled “breakbone fever.” 80% of cases are asymptomatic, but when symptoms develop, symptoms include high fever, muscle and joint pain, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea, and vomiting.

Symptoms begin 4 to 10 days after infection and can last from 2 days to up to a week. DHF (severe dengue fever) manifests as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums or nose, blood in the stool or vomit, pale, cold skin, and fatigue. Doctors can only alleviate these symptoms because antiviral drugs are not available.

How does dengue spread?

Dengue fever is spread through the bite of an infected female mosquito. Aedes aegypti, typically found in tropical and subtropical regions. Originating from the forests of West Africa, Aedes aegypti They spread around the world during the African slave trade and have continued to hitchhike as a means of human transportation ever since.

other Aedes Other species can also transmit dengue fever, although to a lesser extent. The highly invasive Asian tiger mosquito is the likely cause of dengue infections in Europe. Unlike malaria mosquitoes, which usually bite at night and can be prevented with insecticide-treated bed nets, dengue mosquitoes bite during the day and are very difficult to control.

Mosquitoes are now highly urbanized creatures, admirably adapted to coexist with humans, their preferred blood source. In cities, stagnant water is key to survival, providing spawning grounds and habitat for aquatic larval and pupal development. Mosquitoes breed in small puddles in garbage, used tires, and man-made containers such as flower pots. Thus, humans have been the main driving force behind the success of the dengue mosquito.

How can we fight the spread of infection?

Dengue prevention requires a multipronged attack on mosquitoes, with a focus on insecticide spraying. However, insecticide resistance is developing in mosquito populations around the world, threatening their effectiveness.

what else? Control strategies also include adaptations to eliminate breeding sites or prevent reproduction. Aedes aegypti Prevent spawning in stagnant water (remove debris that could trap water and install covers on water storage containers).

Bacterial toxins are also applied to bodies of water to kill mosquito larvae. These strategies are labor intensive because it is difficult to identify, treat, and eliminate all breeding sites. Therefore, new methods of mosquito control are desperately needed.

The World Mosquito Program (WMP) has devised a non-chemical and non-GMO-based approach for dengue control. Bacteria called Wolbachia which occurs naturally in many insect species; Aedes aegypti.

WMP was found to be “infected”. Aedes aegypti and Wolbachia Prevented the onset of dengue virus in adult women. From a logistical point of view, this method is self-sustaining. Wolbachia It can spread to wild populations because it infects eggs through mating.

WMP reports a significant decrease in dengue cases. Aedes aegypti carry Wolbachia has been released.given that Aedes aegypti Since Zika and Chikungunya viruses are also transmitted, WMP has developed a potential “three-for-one” method of disease control.

It’s no exaggeration to say that mosquitoes are the most hated insects, but despite their notoriety, only a handful of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes transmit disease. They are also important to the ecosystem.

Mosquitoes are a food source for fish, frogs, reptiles, bats, and birds, and they are also pollinators, as male insects suck nectar from flowers (only females drink blood). The WMP approach is species-specific and targeted only. Aedes aegyptiThis is in contrast to the “blunt force” approach with insecticides, which can affect insects other than the target.

The climate change trajectory we are currently on is leading to rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, which will benefit this terrifying little insect and her viral cargo. Therefore, we need as many weapons as possible in our arsenal to combat the growing global dengue threat.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Potential Spread of Dengue Fever-Carrying Asian Tiger Mosquitoes to the UK Within Decades | Latest UK Updates

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The Asian tiger mosquito, which carries dengue fever, could be endemic in Britain by mid-century, government health experts say.

In recent years, insects have spread to most of Europe due to the warmer climate, tending to live in urban areas and feed during the day, putting people at greater risk.

They have striped bodies and are known for their ability to spread dengue fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya fever (diseases usually associated with tropical regions).

The UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) fears dengue fever could be transmitted in London by 2060, and mosquitoes themselves could be widespread across the UK by the 2040s.

UKHSA entomologist Jolyon Medlock said surveillance at borders could help slow the spread of mosquitoes, and people should cover standing water and empty containers as the insects lay their eggs to keep mosquitoes away.

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UKHSA, said: “What was called a tropical disease when I was trained many years ago will actually become a national household disease.”

Officials also said other food- and water-borne infections could become more common, increasing the risk of further pandemics.

The dangers of heatwaves will worsen, flooding will become more severe, and people’s mental health may be adversely affected.

Food prices could also become more volatile, as much of the food the UK imports comes from areas prone to climate impacts such as drought.

Wildfires that produce toxic smoke are also expected to occur more frequently during hotter, drier summers.

Young children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable to these threats.

Click to subscribe to Tom Heap’s ClimateCast wherever you get your podcasts

“In the summer of 2022, temperatures in the UK exceeded 40 degrees for the first time on record,” Dame Jenny said.

“Nearly 3,000 excess deaths were recorded during this prolonged heat wave, while many other countries have experienced extreme heat and prolonged heat waves in recent months.

“Using a high emissions scenario, health-related deaths in the UK are estimated to increase by more than 100% in the 2030s, more than 500% in the 2050s and more than 1,000% by 2070.”

read more:
What is dengue fever and how is it spread?
Doctors fear an outbreak could occur in the UK too – and here’s why

The Earth is already 1.2 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels, and given the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, further warming is already locked in, even if emissions start to fall overnight.

This means some adaptation will be needed, alongside emissions reductions, housing improvements, flood protection and extreme heat warnings, UKHSA said.

Mrs Jenny added: ‘Climate change is an important threat to public health around the world, not only through increased mortality from extreme temperatures and weather impacts, but also through increased spread of infectious diseases and worsened earth system vulnerabilities.”

Source: news.sky.com