From Science Daily
September 4, 2018

In healthy individuals, the Zika virus causes flu-like symptoms. If a pregnant woman becomes infected, the unborn child can suffer from severe brain abnormalities as a result of mechanisms that have not yet been explained. A study by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPI-B) shows that Zika virus proteins bind to cellular proteins that are required for neural development.

From the VC Star
September 1, 2018

Officials say a couple of invasive types of mosquito known as “ankle biters” are spreading quickly throughout Southern California.

Aedes mosquitoes are responsible for itchy, painful bites across greater Los Angeles.

Aedes mosquitoes were originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now they’re in Southern California.

“They are spreading like wildfire,” said Susanne Kluh, director of scientific and technical services at the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. “Our phones are exploding.”

There are two particularly troubling types of invasive Aedes mosquitoes in Southern California.

Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian Tiger mosquito, arrived first, having hitched a ride with shipments of lucky bamboo from China back in 2001.

Vector control specialists monitored plant nurseries across the county, and soon stopped finding the mosquitoes in their traps. They thought the insects had been eradicated. However, in 2011, residents in El Monte began to complain about unusually aggressive, daytime-biting mosquitoes plaguing the neighborhood.

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Press Release From San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District
August 31, 2018

(STOCKTON, CA) – Labor Day typically reminds us that summer is winding down. Unfortunately, mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus (WNV) remain at high levels. With Labor Day on Monday September 3, 2018 many of us will be outside enjoying friends and family. Beware of mosquitoes and protect yourself from WNV. “The District is working hard to reduce the risk of West Nile virus in humans; however, people need to take precautions when outdoors,” said Aaron Devencenzi, Public Information Officer with the San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District (District).

Remember to use mosquito repellent when outdoors. Using EPA registered repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus are recommended to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease. Some products with a higher percentage of an active ingredient will work longer to protect you. Read and follow the label instructions for proper use and protection time.

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Press Release from Contra Costa MVCD
August 31, 2018

The District Urges Citizens to Protect Themselves Over the Holiday Weekend

From FIU News
August 30, 2018

In the first half of 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported only 34 symptomatic Zika virus disease cases, down from more than 5,000 in 2016. But, as the CDC notes, that does not mean that the virus is no longer of concern: where you live, where you travel, and where your sex partner(s) travel can affect your chances of getting Zika. And the state of Florida is still vulnerable to outbreaks because many of its neighbors and visitors come from actively affected areas.

This summer, researchers in the Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine patented a new way of detecting the Zika virus in patients significantly faster and earlier than methods currently being used.

With nano-enabled biosensors, “The electrochemical system we have developed can detect the virus in 40 minutes or less, using a smaller sample and at a lower level of disease,” says Madhavan Nair, professor and chair of the Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine.

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From CBS Sacramento
August 29, 2018

PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) — New efforts started Wednesday night to help eradicate West Nile Virus in Placer County.

A plane began aerial spraying over parts of Roseville and Rocklin Wednesday evening. The 97-hundred acre area being treated has seen an alarming increase in birds and mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus according to the vector control district.

So far no human cases have been confirmed this year in the county.

Some residents have concerns over the spraying of residential neighborhoods — but officials say it’s the best way to prevent the outbreak of the potentially deadly disease.

Joel Buettner of the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District explained that they spray a chemical designed to kill mosquitos.

“I’d be lying if I said it was perfectly safe just like a lot of other things. And any risk there may be is far outweighed by the way by the risk of getting sick,” Buettner said.

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From the Los Angeles Daily News
August 29, 2018

Mosquito breeding sites in Northridge and surrounding neighborhoods are the target of a wider effort to prevent the spread of the potentially deadly West Nile virus in Los Angeles County, including the San Fernando Valley.

Vector control district officials earlier this month identified six “chronic mosquito breeding sites” in Northridge and other northwest San Fernando Valley neighborhoods that Los Angeles city officials need to address. Those areas have large amounts of stagnant water pooling around clogged gutters and other public infrastructure, officials said.

Samples taken from mosquitoes in several San Fernando Valley communities, between July 3 and Aug. 16, showed the presence of the West Nile virus, vector control officials said. Those areas are Burbank, Encino, La Mirada, Montebello, Northridge, Panorama City, Porter Ranch, Sherman Oaks, Sun Valley and Van Nuys.

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Northern Salinas Valley MAD and Monterey County created an educational video all about mosquitoes – Click here to view the video.

From The Napa Valley Register
August 28, 2018

From The Fresno Bee
August 28, 2018

Tulare County has confirmed the first case of West Nile virus in 2018 in an individual in Porterville.

Fresno County has had three cases of West Nile so far this year, according to the California Department of Public Health.

West Nile illnesses are causes by mosquito bites, and the same mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus also can carry St. Louis Encephalitis virus.

Health officials in Tulare are warning residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites. This year, in addition to West Nile, samples of mosquitoes in Tulare County have shown a higher number of positive test results for St. Louis Encephalitis than in past years.

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From Fox News
August 28, 2018

When Lynn Kaufer Hodson was bitten by a triatomine, also known as a “kissing bug,” she couldn’t even feel it. It wasn’t until a large, itchy lump appeared on her neck the next day that she realized some type of pest had sucked her blood.

Hodson had been staying with family in a camper on her ranch in Grass Valley, Calif., in November 2016 while she waited to move into her new home in Penn Valley — a town that was a roughly 30-minute drive away. 

At first, Hodson just believed a spider or mosquito had bitten her while she was staying in a fifth wheel camper. But weeks went by, and the bite mark continued to throb and itch.

“It was super itchy for like two or three weeks,” Hodson, 49, recalled to Fox News, though she admitted she initially decided against going to the doctor.

It wasn’t until two months later that Hodson learned — by accident — the type of deadly bug that had actually bitten her.

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From Lake County News
August 28, 2018

LAKEPORT, Calif. – County officials said that recent tests have confirmed new findings of West Nile virus in Lake County.

This week’s sentinel chicken testing showed that one of the birds from the Upper Lake flock tested positive for WNV. 

Earlier this month, four mosquito samples from Lake County tested positive for West Nile, as Lake County News has reported. The positive samples were collected in Lower Lake (1), Middletown (2), and Upper Lake (2), and all four were the same species, Culex tarsalis, also known as the western encephalitis mosquito.

“This is typically the peak of the West Nile virus season, and activity continues through September,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “Mosquitoes are still biting, and it’s important for residents to dump out any water where the mosquitoes can develop. To control mosquitoes in ponds, water features, livestock water tanks, or pools and spas that are not being maintained, residents can pick up mosquito-eating fish for free from our office.”

“If you plan to be outside when mosquitoes are active, use insect repellent applied according the directions on the label and reapply as directed,” said Dr. Erin Gustafson, Lake County deputy health officer. 

Dr. Gustafson added, “When we see chickens becoming positive for West Nile virus, the conditions are right for transmission to humans. It is important for medical providers to have an increased awareness and test for West Nile virus when they have a suspicion.”

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From KMIR
August 28, 2018

Mosquitoes capable of transmitting harmful viruses like Zika and yellow fever have been found in Rancho Mirage, prompting a round of planned door-to-door inspections, local vector control officials said Tuesday.

Two Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae and four mosquito pupae were recently collected in a Rancho Mirage neighborhood, making it the eighth Coachella Valley city where the species has been detected, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

District officials say the mosquitoes are capable of transmitting viruses like Zika, yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya, though those viruses are not currently being transmitted locally.

Door-to-door inspections will be carried out on an unspecified date at homes within a 450-foot radius of Gerald Ford Drive and Plumley Road, where the district’s technicians will search for and remove containers that can hold standing water in residential yards, a common breeding place for mosquitoes.

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From Industry Global News
August 25, 2018

A mother lives in North California is begging guardians to utilize bug spray after a mosquito chomp handled her child in the healing centre with seizures and cerebrum swelling.

Loraine Surratt’s 6-year-old child Noah spent right around seven days in the healing facility battling his way back to his family in the wake of being bit by a mosquito conveying La Crosse encephalitis, which can cause swelling of the mind

There were such a large number of times it experienced my brain, not knowing whether he would make it, Surratt said.

Noah’s lips were blue, eyes repaired looking and were totally limp he had a seizure, “Surratt reviewed in an extensive Facebook post that depicted the experience”.

It began on an ongoing Saturday when Noah started crying over a cerebral pain as the family made a beeline foresee his grandparents. Surratt said she gave her child some agony drug, which appeared to help. Noah and his more seasoned siblings remained medium-term with their grandparents, however regardless he whined of a cerebral pain when his mom checked in the following morning.

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From NBC Los Angeles
August 23, 2018

Louisiana and Mississippi are leading the nation in the number of people who have become the most seriously ill from West Nile virus this year, with California coming in fourth. State health departments are warning residents to take precautions against mosquitoes, which spread the virus.

“Not in my house, not on my skin, not in my yard,” said Dr. Raoult Ratard, Louisiana’s state epidemiologist, as he repeated the state slogan for fighting the disease Wednesday. Precautions include making sure door and window screens don’t have holes; wearing long clothes and using mosquito repellent; and making sure the yard doesn’t hold any standing water where mosquitoes might breed — even a bottle cap.

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From the U.S. News
August 22, 2018

LOS ANGELES 

Efforts are underway to fight a dangerous species of mosquitos found in Los Banos.

The Merced County Mosquito Abatement found a mosquito known as the Aedes aegypti, which have the potential to transmit diseases like Zika and Yellow Fever

Rhiannon Jones from Merced County Mosquito Abatement said, “They are more like a backyard mosquito, this is the first time that mosquito has been introduced in this area.”

Jason Bakken says unlike your average mosquito, these can bite at any time of the day.

He says the mosquitos they found aren’t necessarily infected, but it has the potential to carry the diseases.

Bakken said the goal now is to, “Ramp up our efforts for surveillance, figure out how far this infestation goes, try to find the boundaries, see how widespread this is.”

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From the Merced Sun-Star
August 21, 2018

A foreign mosquito capable of transmitting several fatal human diseases has been found in Los Banos, according to the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District.

The invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, known as the “yellow fever mosquito,” was discovered Tuesday morning in a residential area in the 93635 area code of the City of Los Banos, according to the district. It’s the second location detected in Merced County following the discovery of the mosquito last year in the City of Merced.

The mosquito, which has been detected in 13 other California counties, is capable of transmitting diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika, according to a news release.

The extent of the infestation is being evaluated by the district, the release states. Door-to-door inspections are planned for residential properties to determine where there may be standing water where the mosquitoes can breed.

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From Science Daily
August 20, 2018

The scientists will present their research today at the 256th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

“Our new repellents are based on how nature already works,” Joel R. Coats, Ph.D., says. “For example, citronella, a spatial repellent that comes from lemongrass, contains naturally occurring essential oils that have been used for centuries to repel mosquitoes. But citronella doesn’t last long and blows away easily. Our new, next-generation spatial repellents are variations of natural products that are longer-lasting and have greater repellency.”

Coats and graduate students James S. Klimavicz and Caleb L. Corona at Iowa State University in Ames have been synthesizing and testing hundreds of compounds against mosquitoes. They knew that sesquiterpenoids, which are found in many plants, are effective insect repellents, but these large molecules are difficult to isolate from plants and hard to make and purify in the laboratory.

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From The Press
August 20, 2018

The California Department of Agriculture  recently issued the following press release on West Nile virus detected in horses in Sacramento, Kern and Placer counties:

A dangerous disease, West Nile virus, has returned to California this summer. Last week, four horses were diagnosed with the disease – two in Sacramento County and one each in Kern and Placer counties. Two of the horses have been euthanized due to the severity of neurologic signs, and the other two are alive and receiving veterinary care.

Horse owners are reminded to have their animals vaccinated to make sure they are maximizing protection against the disease. And once vaccinations occur, horse owners should be checking regularly with their veterinarians to make sure they stay current.

Californians can also do their part to prevent the disease by managing mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus. Eliminate standing water and work to limit mosquito access to horses by stabling during active mosquito feeding times (typically dusk to dawn), and by utilizing fly sheets, masks or permethrin-based mosquito repellents.

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From the Record Searchlight
August 18, 2018

While 80 percent of people infected with West Nile have no symptoms, health officials advise the public to tell their doctor if they have had any recent mosquito bites and contact their health provider immediately if they do experience any of the symptoms mentioned.

Health officials advise residents to follow the “Four Ds” to avoid the virus:

• Drain standing water every four to five days around the house, tires, cans, flower pots, clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, toys and puddles.Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water.
• Dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active. Health officials say it’s best to limit outdoor activities and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
• Defend yourself and your home by using an effective insect repellent and making sure screens on doors and windows are in good condition. Always follow label instructions on insect repellent carefully.
• Dress in long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk in areas where mosquitoes are active.

This year in Shasta County, the West Nile virus was found in two dead birds, four mosquito samples, one horse and one person.

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From the East Bay Times
August 18, 2018

DISCOVERY BAY — The number of birds and mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus has increased by 50 percent in the past week, the county Mosquito & Vector Control District reported on Friday.

In the past week, there have been four groups of mosquitoes, four dead birds and one group of Sentinel Chickens that have tested positive for the West Nile virus. The discoveries have doubled the number of dead birds found with the virus in Contra Costa County for this year and nearly doubled the number of positive mosquito groups.

Usually, the months of August and September, when baby birds are leaving their nests and mosquitoes bite more often, are when the virus peaks, the district warned.

“As we enter the peak of West Nile virus season we’re starting to see more widespread activity,” said Steve Schutz, the district’s scientific programs manager. “People in all areas of Contra Costa County should be protecting themselves against mosquito bites.”

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From Science Daily
August 16, 2018

At issue is the displacement of Aedes aegypti (yellow fever) mosquitos by a cousin species, Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger), which occurred in the southeastern United States in the 1980s. In this “battle of the Aedes,” the invading A. albopictus decimated A. aegypti populations throughout the Southeast, leaving smaller A. aegypti populations in Key West, Florida, Arizona and a few other southern locales. A. aegypti mosquitoes carry and spread many diseases that harm humans, including Zika, dengue fever and chikungunya.

Part of the takeover was attributed to how the larvae of each species grew; A. albopictus mosquitoes seemed to be able to outcompete the native mosquitoes. But another factor also played a huge role in the battle: When A. aegypti females mated with A. albopictus males — a genetic no-no — those females became sterile for life, a process called “satyrization.” A. albopictus females didn’t face the same fate; no offspring were produced when they mated with A. aegypti males, but they were later able to be fertile when mating with males of their own species.

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From EurekAlert!
August 16, 2018

Vaccinations have begun in a first-in-human trial of an experimental live, attenuated Zika virus vaccine developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. The trial will enroll a total of 28 healthy, non-pregnant adults ages 18 to 50 at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Immunization Research in Baltimore, Maryland, and at the Vaccine Testing Center at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont in Burlington. NIAID is sponsoring the trial.

Although most people experience a mild illness or no symptoms when infected with Zika virus, babies born to women infected with Zika virus during pregnancy may have birth defects and/or develop health problems in their early years.

Zika virus is primarily transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito or can be transmitted through sex. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika. CDC also recommends that partners of pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy should know pregnancy risks and take certain precautions. The U.S. Zika Pregnancy and Infant Registry has recorded the number of pregnant women with laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection since 2015. As of July 17, 2018, the registry had recorded 2474 pregnancies in states and the District of Columbia and 4900 pregnancies in U.S. territories and freely associated states.

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From the Mercury News
August 14, 2018

West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes collected from an area around the 94087, 95050 and 950512 zip codes in parts of Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, the Santa Clara County Vector Control District announced Monday.

The vector control district is planning a targeted treatment operation on Wednesday in an effort to prevent human cases of West Nile virus, which has resulted in 292 fatalities statewide since 2003.

The vector control district said the truck-mounted treatment will begin at 11 p.m. and last about three hours. The boundaries of the area being treated include Cabrillo, Machado, Santa Maria and Warburton avenues to the north, Long Street, Scott Boulevard, Fairfield Avenue and Robin Drive to the east, E. Homestead Road, Lehigh and Kenyon drives, Forbes and Taft avenues to the south and Swallow and Teal drives, Turnstone Way, Halford Avenue and Lawrence Expressway to the west. The map is available here.

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From the Los Angeles Daily News
August 14, 2018

Millie Cavafian lives in South Pasadena next door to a vacant home with an old swimming pool teeming with green algae.

“Five minutes out of the house and we are bitten by mosquitoes. We have kids and they have complained about it,” she told Marc Mitchell, vector control specialist.

Mitchell scooped several mosquito fish from his bucket and let them swim free into the murky pool waterAt one end of the kidney-shaped pool, rings popped up in the green muck marking where mosquito larvae were jumping up for air.

“Thank you for addressing that one over there,” Cavafian said to him.

One look at these skinny topminnows being dropped into pools, fountains and flood control channels and you would never know they have a voracious appetite.

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From Healio
August 14, 2018

For children with suspected or confirmed exposure to Zika virus in utero, the CDC recommends screening for signs of congenital Zika syndrome and other birth defects by 1 month of age. The agency also recommends evaluating children for microcephaly until age 24 months and older. However, authors of a recent editorial published in Trends in Microbiology are now suggesting that because the effects of Zika virus infection may extend well into childhood, regular screening may be necessary through adolescence.

Approximately one in 10 U.S. pregnant women with confirmed Zika virus infection had a fetus or baby with birth defects in 2016, according to the CDC. The highest risk for birth defects occurred when mothers were infected in the first trimester.

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From Action News Now
August 13, 2018

Chico, Calif.– Maybe the most infamous pest of the summer season is the mosquito – with reports of West Nile Virus in recent years across the North State, these pests can be a serious problem.

We know already that there are several mosquitoes in Butte County plagued with WNV; Honcut, Palermo, and Dayton – the virus is here.

With increasing mosquito populations, the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District urges residents to take all precautions necessary to drain any and all unneeded standing water, report any suspected mosquito-breeding sites and protect themselves from the bites of mosquitoes.

Remove standing water on your property from plant saucers, clogged gutters and garden containers — they’re potential breeding sites.

There’s an array of products marketed to help deal with mosquitoes and other annoying flying critters: sprays, herbs, zappers, citronella, coils, lanterns, candles, oils, dunks, fogs, torches, table-top diffusers, wipes, lotions and one-time yard treatments.

And another creepy-crawly that makes itself known in warm weather is the spiders.

They have plenty of benefits, but that doesn’t mean we want to see them all over our homes.

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From The Mercury News
August 11, 2018

West Nile virus was found in two dead birds and mosquitoes in eastern Contra Costa, the county Mosquito & Vector Control District said Friday.

The district warns the virus peaks in August and September, when baby birds leave nests and mosquitoes bite more often.

So far in 2018, there was one other dead bird and four other groups of mosquitos who tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, the district said.

“This puts people at higher risk of virus transmission and so it’s important for Contra County residents to take steps now to avoid mosquito bites,” said Steve Schutz, the district’s scientific programs manager.

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From 7 News
August 11, 2018

Two dead birds found in Discovery Bay have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District.

In addition, mosquitoes found in Oakley and Discovery Bay also tested positive, the district said Friday in a news release.

There have been a total three dead birds and five groups of mosquitoes so far this year to test positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, according to the district.

“West Nile virus activity typically peaks in August and September, when baby birds have left their nests and mosquitoes begin to feed on humans more often,” Steve Schutz, the district’s scientific programs manager, said in a statement.

Last month, the district’s sentinel chicken flock in Martinez tested positive, the first sign of West Nile virus activity in the central part of Contra Costa County.

Since 2005, 63 Contra Costa residents have been diagnosed with West Nile virus, according to the district. In 2006, two people died from the disease.

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Press Release from Contra Costa MVCD
August 10, 2018

From the Daily Bulletin
August 10, 2018

A mosquito known to transmit the Zika virus has been discovered in Ontario.

The Aedes aegypti, known as the Yellow Fever mosquito, was found in a trap near Euclid Avenue and Walnut Street, according to a news release from the West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

This is the first time the mosquito has been found in Ontario. In July, it was found in Montclair.

The small, black and white mosquitoes are closely associated with human dwellings. They will actively pursue people both during the day and the evening, according to the District.

They are also known transmitters of Chikungunya, Dengue, and Yellow Fever viruses.

District officials are urging residents to remove all standing water sources, such as buckets, tires and planter pots. They also recommend scrubbing the inside of containers to dislodge eggs deposited above the water line.

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From the Venice Patch
August 10, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA — A batch of mosquitoes trapped in Playa Vista tested positive for the St. Louis Encephalitis virus, which is similar to West Nile virus, vector control officials said Friday.

The mosquitoes are the first found to be carrying SLEV in Los Angeles County this year. There has not been a human case of the virus in Los Angeles County since 1997. Mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found in the county each of the past two years.

Like West Nile, SLEV is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes. Also like West Nile, most people who contract the virus do not show any symptoms. Others will develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches.

In the most severe cases, SLEV and West Nile virus can affect the central nervous system and lead to meningitis or encephalitis, potentially causing death or long-term disabilities. People over age 50 years and people with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of experiencing severe symptoms.

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From Action News Now
August 9, 2018

OROVILLE, Calif. – The Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District (BCMVCD) said various groups of mosquitoes, and some chickens have been infected with West Nile Virus in the county.

At least 17 mosquito pools and 11 sentinel chickens tested positive for the virus, according to District Manager Matthew Ball from BCMVCD.

The mosquitos were found in south, central and northern areas of Butte County making it a total of 35 mosquito pools with one wild dead bird, officials said.

Butte County officials are urging residents to drain any and all un-needed standing water and to report any suspected mosquito-breeding sites to the district.

The Thursday announcement comes a week after the Butte County Public Health Department announced its first human case of WNV for 2018.

Officials said WNV is continuing to increase in California and that Butte County is following that trend.

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From WBRZ
August 8, 2018

The number of days each year that are suitable for disease transmission by mosquitoes is rising in much of the U.S., as temperatures climb with climate change. This can increase the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika and West Nile. Following research from Stanford University, Climate Central analyzed the number of days in the spring, summer, and fall each year with an average temperatures between 61°F and 93°F, which is the range for transmission of diseases spread by Aedes or Culex type mosquitoes. Of the 244 cities analyzed, 94% are seeing an increase in the number of these “disease danger days.”

Reno leads the list of cities with additional disease danger days, averaging an additional 52 days per year in that temperature range compared to a half-century ago. The top 10 cities can be found in the report and cover a variety of climates across the U.S. For example, San Francisco, Tucson, and Erie all have more than four additional weeks each year when transmission is possible. Baton Rouge’s “disease danger days” has increased by 9 days over the last 47 years.

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From WOSU
August 8, 2018

Ohio state researchers may have come up with an effective Zika vaccine. Symptoms from the primarily mosquito-borne disease are often mild, but the virus can lead to birth defects when it’s contracted by pregnant mothers.

According to the World Health Organization, the threat of Zika has calmed since a 2015 epidemic in the Western Hemisphere. But without an effective vaccine the disease remains a risk.

Shan-Lu Liu, who’s part of a team from Ohio State, says their focus was on a protein created within a virus-infected cell, rather than just a weakened version of the virus like many other vaccines.

“For Zika virus, it’s a little different because people have found Zika virus’ antibodies, against Zika virus, can even make the disease more severe,” Liu says.

And because Zika is similar to other diseases like Dengue fever, the team – headed up by Jianrong Li – were concerned a vaccine could make those other infections worse, too.

Liu explains they’ve avoided that reaction by adding the protein, known as NS-1, which the virus normally produces inside a host cell to replicate itself. To get the proteins into the body, the research team is using a weakened version of a virus that affects cattle but has no effect on people.

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From the CDC
August 7, 2018

About 1 in 7 babies now 1 year or older who were born to women with Zika virus infection during pregnancy had one or more health problems possibly caused by exposure to the virus before birth, according to the latest Vital Signs report. Some of these problems were not apparent at birth.

About 4,800 pregnancies from areas with Zika (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands) in the U.S. Zika Pregnancy and Infant Registry (USZPIR) had a laboratory result showing possible or confirmed Zika virus infection between 2016 and 2018. From these pregnancies, 1,450 babies were at least 1 year old by February 1, 2018, and had any follow-up care reported to the USZPIR. Many of these babies did not receive all the recommended screenings for health problems potentially related to Zika virus. Careful monitoring and evaluation of these children is essential to ensure early detection of possible disabilities and referral to early intervention services.

“We know that Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious health problems in babies, such as birth defects and vision problems, including conditions not always evident at birth,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D. “We are still learning about the full range of long-term health problems these babies could face. We thank clinicians for their continued commitment to conduct all necessary tests and evaluations to ensure appropriate care.”

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They also pose a threat to people, according to a new paper in the journal Conservation Biology. The study is based on field research in the Santa Monica Mountains and lab experiments at UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science.

Mosquitos are notorious vectors that spread diseases such as malaria, Zika and West Nile virus. In the mountains, mosquito populations are kept in check by dragonfly nymphs, which voraciously consume their aquatic larvae. But invasive crayfish disrupt that predator-prey relationship, killing and driving dragonfly nymphs from waterways. And while crayfish also consume mosquito larvae, they’re simply not as good at it, the researchers found.

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From East County Today
August 4, 2018

CONCORD, CALIFORNIA – The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District is reporting a dead bird from Brentwood and mosquitoes from Discovery Bay have tested positive for West Nile virus. This is the second group of mosquitoes from Discovery Bay and the first dead bird of the year from Contra Costa County to test positive for the virus.

This virus activity serves as an important reminder that residents should wear repellent to reduce the risk of mosquito bites, especially as summer heat continues, prompting residents to delay outdoor activities until temperatures cool in the evening. The mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile virus are active at dawn and dusk.

According to the District’s Scientific Programs Manager Steve Schutz, Ph.D., “Although this is the second group of mosquitoes from Discovery Bay to test positive for West Nile virus, virus transmission can occur anywhere in the county so it’s very important to wear repellent if you’re going to be outdoors in the evening.”

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From the Palm Desert Patch
August 3, 2018

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA – “Persistent virus activity” in Mecca stemming from disease-carrying mosquitoes has led local vector control officials to call for increased efforts to control the Eastern Coachella Valley mosquito population and reduce transmission of West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis in the region, beginning with a round of helicopter and truck-mounted spraying in the city that started Thursday.

Mosquitoes from Mecca have tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis, while West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes found in Thermal, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

The detections prompted the district to call for a round of truck- mounted spraying during the early mornings and helicopter aerial applications in the evenings through Saturday.

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From Action News Now
August 2, 2018

The first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in Butte County has been announced Thursday morning by the Butte County Public Health Department.

According to Lisa Almaguer from public health, there have been 10 human infections of the virus as of July 10.

The virus is typically active from July through October with August being the peak month.

West Nile Virus is spread to humans by animals by the bite of an infected mosquito, once they feed on infected birds, according to public officials.

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From Science Daily
August 2, 2018

The textbook approach to managing disease outbreaks focuses on three factors — pathogen, host, and environment — but it leaves out one critical component in the case of afflictions such as Zika, malaria, and Lyme: the insect or arthropod responsible for transmission to humans. A new report proposes a new version of the classic ‘epidemiologic triad’ that better reflects the complexities of managing vector-borne diseases.

The emergence of the mosquito-borne Zika virus captured the world’s attention in 2016, and likewise the continued rise of tick-borne Lyme disease in the United States has highlighted the need for robust response capabilities to vector-borne disease. The classic “epidemiologic triad,” however, is due for a revision in the case of infections spread primarily by insects and related arthropods, and a new report in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America proposes a new version that better reflects the complexities of managing vector-borne diseases.

“Rather than focusing on managing diseases at the host or pathogen level, we suggest the focus should be at the environmental and vector levels, an approach known as integrated vector management, or IVM,” says Natalia Cernicchiaro, DVM, MS, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University and senior author on the report. “Management strategies applied at these levels tend to be more sustainable and effective.”

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From Gazette Day
August 2, 2018

To curb the ballooning threat of West Nile Virus, an aerial insecticide spraying has to be conducted. The officials reported that the spray would take place in Elk Grove, the neighborhood’s south of Fruitridge, and the pocket. The spraying will begin on Monday and continue till Tuesday. The Sacramento Vector Control District reported that the spraying would kill the insects that transmit the virus. The announcement came after reports that the Sacramento city unintentionally elevated the risk of its residents contracting the virus courtesy of the developing bodies of stagnant waters that are ideal for mosquito breeding. The Sacramento Vector Control said that the sprayings were scheduled to take place from 8 PM to 12 AM on Monday and Tuesday. A news release said that the spraying is meant to cover about 41,000 acres in area.

The district’s website is reported to contain a mosquito treatment notification service including a communicating map so that the residents can freely figure out whether they are in the spraying zone. Gary Goodman, the district manager, said that it was paramount that they act fast to decrease the risk of the residents contracting West Nile virus and also protect the public. This is especially during the hot summer when the mosquito population is immensely high. When the numbers of these insects are high, the more the residents are at risk of contracting the virus.

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