A significant portion of Cuba’s available drinking water is lost through its leaky and antiquated pipelines — more than 50 percent, by some estimates. From a report: In recent years, infrastructure problems have been compounded by droughts and rising temperatures. For much of the population, running water is available only sporadically — in some cases, for one or two hours a…
Tag: Mosquitoes
Researchers Try Using CRISPR To Genetically Engineer Zika-Resistant Mosquitoes
A new research study at the University of Missouri is using CRISPR gene-editing technology to produce mosquitoes that are unable to replicate Zika virus and therefore cannot infect a human through biting. Slashdot reader wooloohoo shared an announcement from Cornell’s Alliance for Science: Alexander Franz, an associate professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, collaborated with researchers at Colorado State…
Mosquitoes carry more malaria parasites depending on when they bite
When a malaria-infected bird is bitten by mosquitoes over the course of 3 hours, the first insects to feed end up carrying fewer malaria parasites than those that bite later Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2260695-mosquitoes-carry-more-malaria-parasites-depending-on-when-they-bite/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Children can be stealth superspreaders of malaria to mosquitoes
These asymptomatic infections can undermine efforts to eliminate malaria. Source: https://www.livescience.com/asymptomatic-children-malaria-reservoir.html
Covid-19 will probably become endemic. Here’s what that means
Rather than completely disappear – even when vaccines become available- it’s likely that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 will be added to the family of infectious diseases known as “endemic” in the human population. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/covid-19-coronavirus-will-probably-become-endemic-defintion…
Florida releasing genetically modified mosquitoes to prevent diseases like Zika
Some oppose the plan, citing environmental concerns. Source: https://www.livescience.com/genetically-modified-mosquito-florida.html
Release of 750M GM mosquitoes gets approval
The experimental release of millions of genetically modified mosquitoes has been given the go-ahead. The questionable endeavour, which will see around… Source: https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/338979/release-of-750m-gm-mosquitoes-gets-approval…
750 Million Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Approved For Release In Florida Keys
A plan to release over 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022 received final approval from local authorities, against the objection of many local residents and a coalition of environmental advocacy groups. The proposal had already won state and federal approval. CNN reports: Approved by the Environment Protection Agency in May, the pilot project is…
Mosquitoes evolved to suck human blood when they couldn’t find water
Mosquitoes that carry Zika and dengue may have developed their taste for our blood as a way to cope with long dry seasons, since human activity often creates standing water Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2249764-mosquitoes-evolved-to-suck-human-blood-when-they-couldnt-find-water/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Climate change may push Zika virus into southern and eastern Europe
Mosquitoes carrying Zika virus are infectious when temperatures are 19°C or higher – climate change may increase the virus’s range into southern and eastern Europe and the northern US Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2248273-climate-change-may-push-zika-virus-into-southern-and-eastern-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…