Canada - Mosquito Surveillance Reveals the Aedes aegypti Species in Southern Ontario.

We need a new Map.

Canada - Mosquito Surveillance Reveals the Aedes aegypti Species in Southern Ontario. (Wechu). HT: Crof.

In the United States, the Aedes aegypti mosquito primarily exists in the southern states and along the eastern seaboard, where temperatures are more favourable for its survival. There are records of this mosquito being found in some northern states, including Michigan and New Hampshire; however, these were only temporary summer incursions, as the relatively cold winters prevented establishment. To our knowledge, this is the first time Aedes aegypti has been collected in Canada.  

Although it is unknown exactly how the larvae arrived in Ontario, one possibility is that the eggs were transported from the U.S. in shipping containers or other cross-border vehicle traffic. Aedes aegypti eggs could also have been imported in recycled products, such as tires or other containers. Given that this is a tropical mosquito, the extremely hot temperatures this past summer allowed for the species to exist in Windsor. 

“We will continue to ensure that our community stays informed about infectious diseases and the local mosquito surveillance program. It is a key public health service that we provide to Windsor-Essex County residents. The discovery of the yellow fever mosquito larvae through enhanced surveillance of the Aedes albopictus mosquito is an important reminder that we should continue to protect ourselves and our families from mosquito bites,” said Dr. Kirk.   

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is even less cold tolerant than the Aedes albopictus and will not survive the cold winter temperatures. For Zika virus transmission to occur, the Aedes aegypti mosquito would need to feed on an infected person, within the first several days of infection, and then feed upon another susceptible person. 

The greatest risk to contracting Zika virus continues to be centered on those who have travelled to Zika-risk areas (such as South America, the Caribbean and Florida) or who are or have been in sexual contact with these travelers. Read the full story here. More on this story here.

Medical research charity warns: "Expect ZIKA to spread to India and Africa".

Global map of the predicted distribution of Aedes albopictus, another mosquito of the Aedes family that researchers believe transmits the Zika virus. (1 = Full presence of Aedes mosquito, 0= No presence of Aedes mosquito) Source

Medical research charity warns:  "Expect ZIKA to spread to India and Africa". (Guardian).

The Zika virus, which causes brain damage in babies, is likely to spread to India and the continent of Africa, according to the director of the Wellcome Trust, a medical charity deeply involved in research to try to limit the damage.  

“I think we can anticipate global spread,” said Jeremy Farrar, speaking to the Guardian alongside Sue Desmond-Hellmann, the chief executive officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “Given the [Aedes aegypti] mosquito’s availability across the world, I think the spread will next be across Asia and I think we really have to be prepared for it spreading in Africa. I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t.” 

Last month, 16 pregnant women in Singapore were confirmed to have zika virus. “You can anticipate reports from Vietnam, from Indonesia, from India. I don’t think we’re even at the start of the Zika knowledge base yet,” said Farrar.

The two philanthropic organisations, together with the Brazilian, US and UK governments, have announced $18m (£14.7m) funding for an ambitious project to release mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria in two urban areas of Brazil and Colombia. The bacteria renders the mosquitoes unable to transmit viruses. They breed with local mosquitoes, producing offspring with Wolbachia, a bacteria carried by 60% of insects that is harmless to humans. 

If it works, it will help limit not just Zika but also other flaviviruses, including dengue and yellow fever. Read the full story here.

'Zika uncontrollable, will become endemic': CDC Director Tom Frieden.

'Zika uncontrollable, will become endemic': CDC Director Tom Frieden. (MiamiHerald). HT: Crof.

The nation’s highest ranking infectious disease expert delivered some sobering news on Zika to a Miami audience on Tuesday, telling them that the mosquito-borne virus is more widespread than Florida health officials have reported and that the rapid spread of pathogens such as Zika represents “the new normal” in an age of global travel and trade, booming cities and climate change.

“Here’s the plain truth: that Zika and other diseases spread by Aedes aegypti [mosquito species] are really not controllable with current technologies. So we will see this become endemic,” Tom Frieden, a physician and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told a group of about 100 people gathered at the InterContinental Miami hotel for The Atlantic magazine’s CityLab conference.  

Frieden’s takeaway advice for public officials tasked with protecting the public from disease outbreaks: “Invest in public health,” he said. “It pays off.” 

Unprecedented in its ability to spread by sexual contact as well as mosquito bites, and to cause birth defects — most notably microcephaly in children born to mothers infected while pregnant — Zika took health officials by surprise this year, Frieden said, noting that there’s still a lot that scientists do not know about the virus’s effects. 

“Zika has surprised us,” he said. “It’s been difficult to predict. It’s had characteristics that we have not seen with other diseases before. What we anticipate will happen is that this season will calm down within the continental United States. We hope that Miami-Dade will stop having cases, but we can't promise that. ... We will see parts of the hemisphere where it will be endemic. It will come back every year.” 

And though Florida has reported 1,064 Zika cases, including 190 mosquito-borne infections, Frieden said the real number likely is much higher. 

“A rule of thumb,” he said, “is for every case you diagnose you’ve probably got 10 more.” Read the full story here.

Frieden's case total is correct, according to today's Florida Health Zika update, which mentions six new cases—two of them local.

Scientists in India claim to have made the World's First Zika Virus Vaccine.

Scientists in India claim to have made the World's First Zika Virus Vaccine. (NDtv).

Hyderabad:  In an important "Make in India" moment, scientists at a Hyderabad lab say they have developed the world's first vaccine against the Zika Virus. They say, in fact, that they have two.

The World Health Organisation has declared Zika and its suspected link to birth defects a global health emergency. More than 20 countries in Latin America have reported an outbreak and a rare case of the Zika virus being transmitted through sex has been reported in Texas, USA. 

As the world searches for a vaccine and other global companies take first steps on research, the Bharat Biotech International Limited in Hyderabad says it has patented the Zika vaccine.

"On Zika, we are probably the first vaccine company in the world to file a vaccine candidate patent about nine months ago," said Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech Ltd.

Using a live Zika virus imported officially, the Hyderabad company has now developed two candidate vaccines, but taking them through animal and human trials could be a long haul. Dr Ella said he had sought the government's support on this and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)has stepped forward to help.  

"We have just been informed about the Zika vaccine candidate that Bharat Biotech has. We will examine it from the scientific point of view and see the feasibility of taking it forward. It is a good example of a Make in India product," said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, pediatrician and Director General, ICMR.   

Dr Ella said in a best case scenario his company can make one million doses of the vaccine in four months.  Read the full story here.

U.S. Confirms First Case Of #Zika Virus Transmitted Through Sex https://t.co/PjYkyJqoLq

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) February 3, 2016