New bacteria to take on dengue, zika
2 years, 5 months ago

New bacteria to take on dengue, zika

Live Mint  

An end to dengue, chikungunya and zika may be finally in sight, with scientists at a premier government research centre working to infect domestic vectors with a bacteria that will—in around six months’ time—begin eliminating these viruses in them. The scientists have been cross-breeding local Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, chikungunya and zika virus, with mosquitoes that carry the Wolbachia bacteria from Australia’s Monash University. So, what we have done is that we have acquired two strains of the Aedes aegypti eggs harbouring Wolbachia— wMel and wAlb—from Monash University with the approval of the Indian government. In this manner, after six to seven generations, the mosquitoes will have genetic material closest to that of the Indian Aedes aegypti strain while the Wolbachia are inherited from the Australian strains.” “We have confirmed this fact by the genomic studies.” The ICMR has now asked VCRC to conduct more dengue challenge studies with these mosquitoes.

Indian Mosquitoes Dengue Icmr Wolbachia  research  vcrc  males  scientists  bacteria  zika  mosquitoes  aedes  aegypti  wolbachia  dengue

History of this topic

MCD report: Dengue cases cross 4,000-mark for 2024
1 month, 2 weeks ago

MCD report: Dengue cases cross 4,000-mark for 2024

Hindustan Times  

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Wednesday confirmed that the overall count for the number of dengue infections in the city has crossed the 4,000-mark in 2024, with 467 new cases reported in the weekly cycle ending on November 2. Of the 4,061 dengue cases in this year, 2,431 cases were reported in October alone According to the weekly vector …

Silent Mosquitoes: A New Weapon Against Dengue
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Silent Mosquitoes: A New Weapon Against Dengue

Firstpost  

Researchers from the University of California have found a unique method of combating mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, yellow fever, and Zika. Male mosquitoes use their hearing to track out females based on their appealing wingbeats, and they have sex while flying in midair. Female mosquitoes are the ones that transmit diseases to humans. Thus, scientists believe preventing them from having …

Mosquito-borne virus spreads at 'unprecedented' levels in L.A.
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Mosquito-borne virus spreads at 'unprecedented' levels in L.A.

LA Times  

About 1 in 20 people infected with dengue will become severely ill, facing complications such as shock, internal bleeding or respiratory failure. The worry, though, is “if there are enough infected mosquitoes, it could lead to exponential spread,” said Dr. Aiman Halai, director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health’s Vector-Borne Disease Unit. The World Health Organization warned last …

Telangana: Chikungunya bigger menace than dengue at present, say doctors
3 months, 1 week ago

Telangana: Chikungunya bigger menace than dengue at present, say doctors

New Indian Express  

HYDERABAD: Following the dengue panic at the beginning of this year’s monsoon, chikungunya has now turned into a bigger menace in terms of vector-borne diseases in Hyderabad. As per the official data of the state health department, 6,405 dengue,178 chikungunya, 200 malaria and 6,192 fever cases have been recorded in Telangana from January to August 31. Although influenza continues to …

Chikungunya's new variant wreaks havoc in Pune; know causes, symptoms and ways to prevent this viral disease
3 months, 1 week ago

Chikungunya's new variant wreaks havoc in Pune; know causes, symptoms and ways to prevent this viral disease

India TV News  

A new variant of the Chikungunya virus has recently emerged in Pune, causing widespread concern due to its rapid spread and the severity of its symptoms. The spread of the new variant in Pune is likely due to the following factors: It increased mosquito population due to monsoon rains and improper waste management. Common symptoms include: High fever Severe joint …

Dengue cases dropped by 94 per cent this year, says NDMC
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Dengue cases dropped by 94 per cent this year, says NDMC

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Over 94% drop in cases of dengue were recorded this year, the New Delhi Municipal Council said on Friday. According to the data released by the civic body, seven cases of dengue were recorded till August 29, in comparison to 131 of the last year. NDMC Member Kuljeet Singh Chahal said that the NDMC is making all efforts …

ICMR, Panacea Biotec Initiate First Dengue Vaccine Phase-3 Clinical Trial in India
4 months, 1 week ago

ICMR, Panacea Biotec Initiate First Dengue Vaccine Phase-3 Clinical Trial in India

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: The Indian Council of Medical Research and Panacea Biotec have announced the initiation of the first-ever Phase-III clinical trial for a dengue vaccine in India. This landmark trial will evaluate the efficacy of India’s indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll, developed by Panacea Biotec. Commenting on this milestone, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda, said, “The initiation …

ICMR, Panacea Biotec begin first-ever phase 3 clinical trial of made-in-India dengue vaccine
4 months, 1 week ago

ICMR, Panacea Biotec begin first-ever phase 3 clinical trial of made-in-India dengue vaccine

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: In a significant announcement, the centre on Wednesday said that the first-ever Phase 3 clinical trial for a made-in-India dengue vaccine has been initiated. The Indian Council of Medical Research and Panacea Biotec have announced the initiation of this landmark trial, which will evaluate the efficacy of India’s indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll, developed by Panacea Biotec. The …

Pune reports 22 dengue, 19 chikungunya cases in July
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Pune reports 22 dengue, 19 chikungunya cases in July

Hindustan Times  

The Pune Municipal Corporation has reported a spike in vector-borne disease cases in the city, said officials. During the ongoing surveillance, the civic body reported 22 dengue and 19 chikungunya cases in July. As per the officials, the recent rains resulting in water accumulation in artificial and natural sources in residential areas have made favourable conditions for mosquito breeding which …

Zika virus: Doctor, his teenage daughter test positive for Zika virus infection in Pune
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Zika virus: Doctor, his teenage daughter test positive for Zika virus infection in Pune

The Hindu  

A 46-year-old doctor and his teenage daughter have tested positive for Zika virus infection in Pune city of Maharashtra, but their health condition is stable, an official said on June 26. On June 21, his reports confirmed that he tested positive for Zika virus infection, a health official of the Pune Municipal Corporation said. “After he tested positive, the blood …

In Rio, rife with dengue, bacteria-infected mosquitoes are making a difference
9 months, 3 weeks ago

In Rio, rife with dengue, bacteria-infected mosquitoes are making a difference

Associated Press  

NITEROI, Brazil — Since Rio de Janeiro declared a public health emergency after an outbreak of dengue fever last month, the city has ramped up testing capacities, opened up a dozen dengue health centers and trained medical staff to attend to the ever-growing needs of its population. Health officials say a pilot program launched in Niteroi in 2015, in which …

Special mosquitoes are being bred to fight dengue. How the old enemies are now becoming allies
1 year, 3 months ago

Special mosquitoes are being bred to fight dengue. How the old enemies are now becoming allies

Associated Press  

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — For decades, preventing dengue fever in Honduras has meant teaching people to fear mosquitoes and avoid their bites. A Doctors Without Borders’ worker releases laboratory-bred mosquitoes infected with bacteria that interrupt the transmission of dengue, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. Coordinator Marlene Salazar observes mosquitoes kept in a cube-shaped cage, at the World Mosquito Program’s …

Dengue outbreaks: 9 reasons why dengue cases are getting more severe; what role does global warming play
1 year, 3 months ago

Dengue outbreaks: 9 reasons why dengue cases are getting more severe; what role does global warming play

Hindustan Times  

Mosquito-borne infections are rising across the globe. "The severity of dengue virus infections is influenced by multiple factors, with global warming playing a significant role in creating conducive conditions for mosquito breeding, viral replication, and altered transmission dynamics. "The severity of dengue virus infections can be influenced by a variety of factors, and global warming is indeed playing a role …

Hot weather can make dengue virus more virulent, says study
1 year, 3 months ago

Hot weather can make dengue virus more virulent, says study

India Today  

The Dengue virus could become more virulent as the temperatures increase, according to a recent study. The research, published in the FASEB journal, can help in predicting and mitigating the severity and virulence of dengue, which has an estimated global disease burden of 390 million cases per year. The study can help in predicting and mitigating the severity and virulence …

World Mosquito Day 2023: History, Types, Diseases, and Control
1 year, 4 months ago

World Mosquito Day 2023: History, Types, Diseases, and Control

News 18  

WORLD MOSQUITO DAY 2023: World Mosquitos Day is celebrated on August 20 to commemorate Sir Ronald Ross for discovering the connection between mosquitoes and the transference of Malaria in 1897. Types of mosquitos Asian Tiger mosquitoesAlso known as Aedes albopictus, the mosquito belongs to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia. Yellow fever mosquitoAlso known as Aedes aegypti, it …

Dengue cases spike in Delhi, 121 infections reported in July alone
1 year, 4 months ago

Dengue cases spike in Delhi, 121 infections reported in July alone

India Today  

Dengue cases in Delhi have witnessed a steep rise, with 121 infections reported in the month of July alone. From January to July 28, Delhi registered a total of 243 dengue cases, with half of these cases reported in July. In addition to dengue, the city has However, chikungunya cases have not been reported in Delhi for the third consecutive …

City sees second suspected dengue death
1 year, 4 months ago

City sees second suspected dengue death

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai: The city reported a second suspected dengue death at Parel’s Global Hospital on July 25. The city has been grappling with a surge in dengue cases this year, with significant numbers even before the monsoon season began. As per the latest BMC data, between July 1 and 23, the city recorded 406 cases, surpassing the 353 cases reported in …

Threat of dengue fever escalates globally
1 year, 4 months ago

Threat of dengue fever escalates globally

The Hindu  

The recent surge in dengue cases globally, including in new regions has been alarming and poses significant global health challenges. More dengue cases This month, there was an outbreak of dengue fever reported in Egypt’s Qena province after several positive cases. Dengue cases have soared in India, mostly due to heavy rains and inadequate control measures, which create the ideal …

27 dengue cases in Delhi over the last week, likely to go up
1 year, 5 months ago

27 dengue cases in Delhi over the last week, likely to go up

Hindustan Times  

With parts of the city battling waterlogging and flooding over the last week, Delhi has reported 27 cases of dengue in the weekly cycle ending on July 15, the routine vector-borne disease report issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi said. Public health department officials of the civic body said that as the water recedes in the low-lying areas, the …

Govt effort on to curb vector-borne diseases
1 year, 5 months ago

Govt effort on to curb vector-borne diseases

Live Mint  

The Union health ministry has sounded the alarm on a vector-borne disease outbreak with record rainfall in North India creating a favourable breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Experts from the National Centre for Disease Control have identified August and September as high-risk months for outbreaks of chikungunya, dengue, malaria, Japanese encephalitis and other vector-borne diseases. Besides, the health minister reviewed …

Ahead of monsoon, ICMR confirms infection geography of dengue has grown from eight States in 2001 to across the country
1 year, 6 months ago

Ahead of monsoon, ICMR confirms infection geography of dengue has grown from eight States in 2001 to across the country

The Hindu  

Faced with a shortage of entomologists, a trickier vector, increased travel, and less than optimal public participation to prevent its spread, the infection geography of dengue, which was restricted to eight States in 2001, currently covers all the States and Union Territories in India. As the country gets ready to welcome the southwest monsoon, which is associated with the rise …

Dengue vaccine: India moves closer to getting its first indigenous vaccine
1 year, 7 months ago

Dengue vaccine: India moves closer to getting its first indigenous vaccine

The Hindu  

Moving closer to being able to develop the country’s first vaccine against dengue, drug-makers Serum Institute of India and Panacea Biotec have applied to the Indian Council of Medical Research’s call for ‘Expression of Interest’ for collaborative Phase-III clinical trials for indigenous manufacturers. Phase-III clinical trial is being done for evaluation of efficacy, along with safety and immunogenicity of tetravalent …

Climate change spurring surge in dengue, chikungunya: WHO
1 year, 8 months ago

Climate change spurring surge in dengue, chikungunya: WHO

Live Mint  

The World Health Organization warned Wednesday that dengue and other diseases caused by mosquito-borne arboviruses were spreading far faster and further amid climate change, warning global outbreaks could be looming. Experts with the United Nations health agency sounded the alarm over swelling numbers of cases of dengue and chikungunya, and warned new epidemics of zika could also be expected. "Climate …

Is the rise in dengue, malaria, other infectious diseases due to climate change?
2 years, 1 month ago

Is the rise in dengue, malaria, other infectious diseases due to climate change?

India Today  

The direct effects of climate change on human health have started to become very apparent. "Changing climatic conditions are increasing the risk of heat-related illness, changing the pattern of infectious disease transmission, increasing health risks from extreme events, putting sanitation at risk, and having multidimensional impacts on food and water security," a 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on health …

National Dengue Day 2022: Effective Ways to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay
2 years, 7 months ago

National Dengue Day 2022: Effective Ways to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

News 18  

NATIONAL DENGUE DAY 2022: According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Dengue Day, celebrated on May 16 aims to spread awareness about dengue and to increase preventive measures as well as find out ways to prevent and control the disease across the country. A viral disease caused by the dengue virus, it is transmitted by the Aedes …

Three more Zika virus cases in Kanpur, two of them IAF personnel
3 years, 1 month ago

Three more Zika virus cases in Kanpur, two of them IAF personnel

Hindustan Times  

Three more cases of Zika virus were reported in Kanpur on Saturday, taking the tally in the district to four, the highest anywhere after Kerala where 90 cases have been recorded, said health officials. The development comes a week after the first case of Zika virus in Uttar Pradesh was reported in Kanpur on October 23 when an IAF warrant …

Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya on Rise: Here's State-wise Status Check of Cases, Symptoms and Prevention
3 years, 1 month ago

Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya on Rise: Here's State-wise Status Check of Cases, Symptoms and Prevention

News 18  

The cases of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are on the rise in several states of the country at a time when India is already dealing with a coronavirus pandemic. It added that malaria cases dropped by 71.8 per cent while deaths declined by 73.9 per cent between 2000 to 2019. chikungunya It’s a viral disease transmitted to …

Indian scientists working on 1st ever dengue DNA vaccine
3 years, 2 months ago

Indian scientists working on 1st ever dengue DNA vaccine

Hindustan Times  

The world’s first DNA vaccine was approved for use in India recently. Now, some researchers believe the technology -- considered superior because DNA vaccines are easier to make and store, and, most importantly store an enormous amount of information -- can be used to develop a vaccine for another tropical disease, dengue, a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes. With the …

Column: COVID isn’t spread by mosquitoes. But the next pandemic might be
3 years, 5 months ago

Column: COVID isn’t spread by mosquitoes. But the next pandemic might be

LA Times  

As an aggressive mosquito spreads in California, scientists say we were very lucky that the insects couldn’t transmit COVID-19 to people. “It’s a scary thought,” said Akbari, one of the country’s foremost mosquito researchers. He cited the Aedes mosquito’s “strong human preferences” and the fact that they’re “aggressive daytime biters.” “While for the time being this is just a nuisance,” …

8 most effective ways to prevent mosquito-borne diseases
4 years, 3 months ago

8 most effective ways to prevent mosquito-borne diseases

India Today  

A recent study by WHO have shown that 17 per cent of global estimated communicable diseases are transmitted by vectors and almost 12 major vector-borne diseases across the globe like chikungunya fever, Zika virus fever, yellow fever, West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, malaria is the leading cause of more than 7,00,000 deaths annually. The Integrated vector management approach to …

Researchers Are Genetically Modifying Mosquitoes to Eliminate Diseases Like Dengue, Zika
4 years, 3 months ago

Researchers Are Genetically Modifying Mosquitoes to Eliminate Diseases Like Dengue, Zika

News 18  

For decades, researchers have scratched their heads over how to combat deadly mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever. In Indonesia, an impact study carried out on 300,000 people demonstrated that dengue infection rates decreased by 77 percent in regions where the modified mosquitoes were introduced. “Oxitec’s safe, non-biting male mosquitoes are designed to suppress local wild populations of disease-spreading mosquitoes,” …

Mosquitoes cannot spread COVID-19, Kansas State University finds after studying three most common vectors species
4 years, 5 months ago

Mosquitoes cannot spread COVID-19, Kansas State University finds after studying three most common vectors species

Firstpost  

Mosquitoes are common vectors of a number of infectious pathogens, but WHO has maintained that COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that spreads through droplets and fomites. However, the World Health Organisation had stated quite early that COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that spreads through droplets and fomites and there was no proof of mosquitoes being able to spread the virus. …

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