Controlling dengue by altering Ma Nature

There are 7 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 226 times. The latest Post (August 16, 2026 at 11:16 AM) was by daniel.

    Here where I am staying in Italy, 10+ cases of West-Nile virus have been reported. The news says that most cases are asymptomatic, those requiring hospitalization are probably the ones being reported. According to the National Health Institute, it has been around since 1958.

    Quote

    The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness spread primarily by Culex mosquitoes. Wild birds act as the main reservoir host in a bird-mosquito-bird cycle. Most people infected have no symptoms, but about 20% get a mild fever, and less than 1% develop severe neurological disease. [1, 2, 3, 4]

    Transmission and Spread

    • Mosquito Bites: Contracted mostly from the common nocturnal Culex mosquito during warmer months (July to September).
    • Incubation Period: Symptoms usually show up 2 to 14 days after a bite.
    • Other Routes (Rare): Can spread via blood transfusions, organ transplants, or from mother to child during pregnancy. It does not spread directly from person to person through casual contact. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

    Symptoms

    • Asymptomatic (80%): Most infected individuals feel completely fine.
    • Mild Illness (20%): Causes brief flu-like signs, including fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, or a rash.
    • Severe Illness (<1%): Affects the central nervous system, causing encephalitis or meningitis with high fever, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, or paralysis. Older adults and vulnerable individuals face higher risks. [1, 2, 3]

    Treatment and Prevention

    • Care: There is no specific antiviral treatment or human vaccine available; medical care is supportive to manage symptoms.
    • Protection: Prevent bites by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors (especially at dawn and dusk), and installing window screens.
    • Environment: Eliminate standing water around the home to stop mosquitoes from breeding. [1, 2, 3]

    West Nile, spread by the Culex mosquito, has killed two very good friends of ours in different states, so of course I think of them whenever I hear that familiar whine in my ear or feel the immediate itch of a bite.

    I don't stop to inquire whether the mosquito is a Culex before I swat to kill.

    Dengue has been around in tropical and subtropical climates for a very long time, but warmer global temperatures have helped its carriers, the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes move into Europe, spreading Dengue to more temperate areas. Its nickname Break Bone Fever gives some insight into the severe pain it causes. I'm so glad to see these scientists in Brazil are working on a solution.

    To have one friend killed by West Nile virus is already rare, but to have two... I am so sorry Rice.

    I had heard the name West Nile as an exotic disease, and I didn't know it had arrived in Italy in the '60s. Since the past 10-15 years, mosquitoes have become known as disease-carrying bugs even in Italy. Before then, they were just an itchy nuisance but nothing more than that.

    About the NYT video, I remember reading (or possibly watching) something on the same subject in relation to Malaria. If I recall correctly, the idea was to use mosquitoes to turn them to cure-borne carriers instead of disease-borne. At that stage, the investigator was explaining that while the plan sounded very promising, because it would reach even the farthest areas of Africa at no cost (and basically "vaccinate" involuntarily anyone who got bitten), it was yet to be seen the potential consequences of playing with mother's nature way of doing. I think this was at least 10 years ago, so I am not surprised to hear that the plan got implemented somehow, although in a different continent and for a different disease.

    After moving to Argentina, I became paranoid with dengue. However, if I am being honest, I am usually to lazy to even close the screen at sundown.

    serafina , unless there has been a dramatic change in the past few years, I believe that dengue is much more of a problem in rural areas than in cities. Still, please close the screen at sundown!