New mosquito traps offer nontoxic alternatives in Zika fight.

Canadian and Mexican researchers have developed a novel, low-cost and effective method for capturing and destroying Aedes spp. mosquito eggs by using traps made from used tires. This new solution to mosquito control, which does not use pesticides or noxious chemicals, may have implications for the prevention of vector-borne diseases like dengue and Zika. Gérardo Ulíbarri, PhD, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Laurentian University, Ontario, said in a press release that they decided to use recycled tires because tires already represent up to 29% of the breeding sites chosen by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, partly because tires are a universally affordable instrument in low-resource settings, and partly because giving old tires a new use creates an opportunity to clean up the local environment. Over the course of 10 months in a remote community in Guatemala — where dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses are endemic — Ulíbarri and colleagues studied the effectiveness of a mosquito egg ovitrap called an “ovillanta.” The device, which is designed to imitate a natural breeding site for mosquitoes and attract egg-laying females, is fashioned from two sections of a used car tire that overlap in the shape of a mouth. According to the researchers, a nontoxic attractant solution is poured into the bottom half of the trap, which has a fluid release valve. Female insects lay their eggs on strips of pellon paper inside the ovillanta, and the eggs are counted to monitor the density of the mosquito population and then destroyed with fire or ethanol. Once emptied, the solution is filtered and used again, building up a higher concentration of a natural pheromone left with each egg that will attract other female mosquitoes to the site. In the study, Ulíbarri and colleagues compared the ovillanta with standard ovitraps made from buckets containing 1 L of clean water. According to the researchers, the contents of standard ovitraps are typically discarded onto the ground instead of being recycled, which can sometimes allow surviving Aedes eggs that did not adhere to the strip to hatch on dry soil up to several months later. Moreover, the need to replace clean water on a regular basis can be challenging in remote areas with limited infrastructure. Eighty-four ovillantas were used in seven neighborhoods in the urban core of Sayaxché, which has a population of approximately 15,000. Results indicated that significantly more mosquito eggs were trapped using the ovillantas as more than 181,000 eggs were destroyed during the 10-month period using the new method, almost seven times as many as control sites. Argentinian researchers from the Centro de Investigaciones de Plagas e Insecticidas (CIPEIN) also have designed a new ovitrap prototype — a cup made of low-density polyethylene infused with the larvicide pyriproxyfen, a WHO-recommended juvenile hormone analog that targets mosquito larvae during the pupal stage of development. Once the cup is filled with water, the larvicide is released from the plastic container, killing the eggs of A. aegypti mosquitoes. The CIPEIN researchers tested the plastic ovitrap on laboratory-raised A. aegypti and found that the device was 100% effective at preventing larvae from developing into adults during a 30-week period, even after the water in the container had been changed once a week. However, the researchers noted that field trials are necessary to test the prototype’s effectiveness to suppress A. aegypti populations. A practical tool for managing dengue vectors, must be a specific trap, effective, inexpensive, simple to construct and operate, and it should not require frequent maintenance. . Traps without toxic pesticides are more likely to be accepted by homeowners because of concerns about potential health and environmental hazards. This prototype in the study meets all these requirements. culled from; healio.com

ZIKA VIRUS LINKED TO BRAIN DISORDER IN ADULTS.

Zika has already been linked with the autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome, which attacks peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, causing temporary paralysis that can in some cases require patients to rely on respirators for breathing. Scientists in Brazil have uncovered a new brain disorder associated with Zika infections in adults: an autoimmune syndrome called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, that attacks the brain and spinal cord. The new discovery now shows Zika may provoke an immune attack on the central nervous system as well and this findings add to the growing list of neurological damage associated with Zika. According to the World Health Organization, there is a strong scientific consensus that, in addition to Guillain-Barre, Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly, though conclusive proof may take months or years. Microcephaly is defined by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems. In addition to autoimmune disease, some researchers also have reported patients with Zika infections developing encephalitis and myelitis – nerve disorders typically caused by direct infections in nerve cells. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, typically occurs in the aftermath of an infection, causing intense swelling in the brain and spinal cord that damages myelin, the white protective coating surrounding nerve fibers. It results in weakness, numbness and loss of balance and vision, symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis. The scope of study is small, it may provide evidence that in this case, the virus has different effects on the brain than those identified in current studies,” Dr. Maria Lucia Brito, a neurologist at Restoration Hospital in Recife, Brazil. The study involved 151 patients who visited her hospital between December 2014 and June 2015. All had been infected with arboviruses, the family of viruses that includes Zika, dengue and chikungunya. Six of these patients developed symptoms consistent with autoimmune disorders. Of these six, four had Guillain-Barre and two had ADEM. In both ADEM cases, brain scans showed damage to white matter. ADEM symptoms typically last about six months. All six patients tested positive for Zika, and all had lingering effects after being discharged from the hospital, with five patients reporting motor dysfunction, one with vision problems, and one with cognitive decline. Read more at http://newsdaily.com/2016/04/brazilian-scientists-find-new-zika-linked-brain-disorder-in-adults/#3W9X77ZDhHxA6TKB.99

ZIKA VIRUS INFECTION AND SEX.

A rare case of the Zika virus being transmitted through sex, not a mosquito bite, has been reported in the US.A patient infected in Dallas, Texas, is likely to have been infected by sexual contact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) told the BBC The person had not travelled to infected areas but their partner had returned from Venezuela. Zika is carried by mosquitoes and has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains. It is spreading through the Americas and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the disease linked to the virus a global public health emergency. The American Red Cross has meanwhile urged prospective blood donors returning from Zika-hit countries to wait at least 28 days before donating their blood. The "self-deferral" should apply to people returning from Mexico, the Caribbean or Central or South America during the past four weeks, the Red Cross said in a statement. If Zika can readily spread through sex, then it poses a risk to every country not just those with the Aedes mosquito. The authorities have said sexual transmission is rare, but last year they would have said any case of Zika was rare, too. This explosive outbreak has caught the world by surprise and many key questions remain unanswered. Exactly how common or rare is sexual transmission? Can it be spread by the 80% of people who show no symptoms? How long does the virus persist in semen? When is it safe to have sex again? What should men do after visiting affected countries? Can women also spread the virus through sex? However, this is not a new HIV/Aids moment. HIV infection is incurable and dramatically shortens lives without daily medication. Zika infections are short, mild and pose a significant threat only in pregnancy. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director for CDC, said this was the first case it had dealt with involving a "non-traveller"."We don't believe this was spread through mosquito bites, but we do believe it was spread through a sexual contact."A statement issued by the CDC said the best way to avoid Zika virus infection was "to prevent mosquito bites and to avoid exposure to semen from someone who has been exposed to Zika".The case is "significant" if it was definitely transmitted through sexual contact, Alaka Basu, a senior fellow for public health at the UN Foundation. Story credit BBC.

VECTOR CONTROL AND ZIKA VIRUS.

When the life cycle of the mosquito is understood, then specific interventions can be instituted to kill them.The elimination of stagnant water where some of the stages occur is very important,the spraying of drains with kerosene, cleaning and removing trash from environment will also prevent development of mosquito. The use of insecticides, treated nets and treated clothes are also important.Living quarters surrounded by large bodies of water must be screened to prevent mosquito bites. The Aedes egypti is the identified specie that transmits the zika virus,its also responsible for yellow fever,dengue and chikungunya. The simple protocol of cleaning your environment,removing water collecting containers,using insecticides, clearing drains ,using treated nets and also the use of insect repellent on skin in susceptible environment will keep you safe and free from mosquito bites. Photo credit; internet.

THE ZIKA THREAT AND THE GLOBAL VILLAGE.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness and it was first isolated from a Rhesus monkey in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947. It was first identified in humans in 1957 in Uganda and in 1968, researchers found the virus in people in Nigeria and between 1951 and 1981,the virus found in people in Uganda,Tanzania,egypt,Sierra leone,Gabon e.t.c .The first outbreak outside of Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands only occurred in May 2015, when a case was reported in Brazil. Since then the disease has spread to 18 other countries in south and central America and the Caribbean. The symptoms of Zika include joint pain and a rash – scientists believe it is linked to microcephaly, or abnormally small brains, in newborns. As a result, authorities in Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador have advised women against becoming pregnant during the outbreak. Three travellers who returned to the UK from South and Central America have been diagnosed with the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness that has been linked to brain deformities in babies. The three people had presented with the virus after travelling to Colombia, Suriname and Guyana, all countries which are experiencing Zika outbreaks. Zika does not occur naturally in the UK ,but it can be transmitted only from the bite of a mosquito or, in rare cases through sexual transmission or by transmission from mother to foetus via the placenta.It does not spread directly from person to person. Mosquitoes transmitting the zika virus was only identified in tropical regions but recent research has shown adaptability to colder regions making it easy for spread of the infection.The Aedes aegypti is a day time feeder found predominantly in urban areas in close association with man,making humans the primary target.The best way to stop threat is to protect yourself from bites,avoid travelling to places with outbreaks, wear protective clothing in susceptible areas,use insecticides, screened doors/nets and sleep under treated nets. The war against ZIKA VIRUS is total destruction of mosquitoes, (irrespective of species),clean your environment, remove containers of stagnant water and pour kerosene in your drains/gutters .

THE ZIKA THREAT.

The Zika virus,transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti. The mosquito vectors breed in domestic water holding containers,living in urban areas and are aggressive day-time feeders,though they feed at any time.The virus can affect any age group but pregnant women are so vulnerable with dire consequences in their babies. The virus stays 2-7 days in the blood of an infected person,thus infected people should be protected from further mosquito bites to prevent spread to more people.The basic methods to prevent infection is to prevent mosquito bites.The Aedes aegypti is also responsible for yellow fever,has been known to adapt to cold climate thus the widespread nature of the infection. The Zika virus outbreak in Latin America could be a bigger threat to global health than the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in Africa, claims several senior health experts ahead of an emergency meeting of the World Health Organisation. Where they will decide whether the Zika threat – which is linked to an alarming rise in cases of foetal deformation called microcephaly – should be rated a global health crisis. Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust, said “In many ways the Zika outbreak is worse than the Ebola epidemic of 2014-15,” “Most virus carriers are symptom less and It is a silent infection in a group of highly vulnerable individuals ( pregnant women) – that is associated with a horrible outcome for their babies.” There is no prospect of a vaccine for Zika at present, in contrast to Ebola, for which several are now under trial. “The real problem is that trying to develop a vaccine that would have to be tested on pregnant women is a practical and ethical nightmare,” added Mike Turner, head of infection and immuno-biology at the Wellcome Trust. At least 80% of those infected show no symptoms ,making tracking the disease extremely difficult. The mosquito species that spreads Zika, Aedes aegypti, has been expanding its range over the past few decades. “It loves urban life and has spread across the entire tropical belt of the planet, and of course that belt is expanding as global warming takes effect,” added Farrar. The Zika threat, can be contained with the use of insecticides to eradicate Aedes aegypti , mosquito nets and bedding's and clearing environment of stagnant water.