Then the Mosquitoes followed …
Dengue fever infects 50,000 Thais, killing at least 63
Dengue fever infection, spread by the bite of infected female mosquitoes, has flu-like symptoms, which can easily cause death through a complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Many of the victims live in the slum areas of Tegucigalpa city, Thailand a report said.
EEE in Florida
Meanwhile, 4 Florida residents have reportedly died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne disease that normally afflicts horses, a report said.
This colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) depicts a salivary gland that had been extracted from a mosquito, which was infected by the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, which has been colorized red; magnified 83,900x.
The Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus is a member of the family Togaviridae, and genus Alphavirus. EEE is a mosquito-borne viral disease. As the name suggests, it occurs in the eastern half of the US. Due to the high case fatality rate, it is regarded as one of the more serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. This virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The main transmission cycle is between birds and mosquitoes. Several species of mosquitoes can become infected with the EEE virus. The most important mosquito in maintaining the enzootic (animal-based, in this case bird-mosquito-bird) transmission cycle is Culiseta melanura. Horses can become infected with, and die from EEE virus infection. Source: CDC/ Fred Murphy; Sylvia Whitfield (1968).
“EEE and West Nile virus have been detected in 43 of Florida’s 67 counties, while dengue cases have been confirmed in two south Florida counties, Monroe and Broward, according to the state Department of Health.”
Two of the EEE victims, a viral disease that causes brain inflammation, lived in Tampa-area, a third in the state capital of Tallahassee and one in Sopchoppy, NW Florida.
“The dengue virus began showing up in Florida in 2009 after an absence since its last major outbreak in 1934. At least 28 confirmed cases of domestically transmitted dengue fever have been reported in Florida this year, along with 67 foreign-acquired cases. The disease is more prevalent in Central and South America,” the report said.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Most cases occur in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states (see map). Most persons infected with EEEV have no apparent illness. Severe cases of EEE (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, or coma. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33% mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms. You can reduce your risk of being infected with EEEV by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors while mosquitoes are most active. If you think you or a family member may have EEE, it is important to consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis.
An illustration of a Culiseta melanura mosquito. Common characteristics of Culiseta melanura include a long and curved proboscis, a dark-scaled abdomen, and slightly enlarged dark scales on the outer wing. This mosquito is a vector of the eastern equine encephalitis virus in bird populations. Source: CDC
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