Effectively breaking the cycle of vector-borne disease transmission includes managing the vector and eliminating the virus from reservoirs. New research suggests a drug already approved for human use may eliminate the chikungunya and yellow fever viruses in humans.
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According to the CDC, healthcare associated infections (HAIs) occur in 1 out of every 25 hospitalized people and cost the healthcare system up to an additional $45 billion a year. People undergoing treatment become exposed to pathogens in a variety of ways, but ensuring the healthcare environment is disinfected helps decrease the risk of HAIs. A recent study found that researchers were able to recover MRSA from cockroaches collected from hospitals in Iran suggesting that these mobile insects could be a source of environmental contamination in healthcare settings. Understanding all of the ways surfaces become contaminated helps infection preventionists create strategies to protect patients. A compelling scientific narrative can get consumers to adopt technology, protect themselves against disease and dispel popular misconceptions. All pyrethroids are based from compounds extracted from chrysanthemums- flowers common to many of us. Zebra's stripes fascinate people, and have led many of us to ask how these stripes evolved? Recent research has shown that pressure from biting flies may have selected for this trait. At close distances, the stripes prevent flies from landing and biting, thus interfering with the spread of deadly disease causing agents. This insight may be used to develop preventative clothing to protect commercial and hobby horses from horse flies and other insects. Innovation comes in many forms. Habitat for humanity is combining a novel delivery system for both public education and mosquito treatments. Very cool! Research investigating the efficacy of "bug bombs" against cockroaches found that these common over the counter products were not effective; however, insecticidal baits were able to kill populations of cockroaches. Whereas baits take more effort to apply properly compared to bug bombs, the over all effect leads to much better results. Recent reports suggest insect populations are decling globally; however, not all insects are being affected the same. Urban and medical pests such as cockroaches, bed bugs, flies, and others may be poised to increase due to factors such as global warming and increased urbanization. Novel ways to interfere with vector-borne disease transmission are needed to overcome obstacles like insecticide resistance and work in conjunction with current tools to achieve better results. New research suggests there may be a way to prevent female mosquitoes from biting people and subsequently decreasing exposure to disease causing agents. Over a decade ago, researchers used molecular tools to determine that termites and cockroaches were in the same group. Now, the naming system has been updated, and termites are officially cockroaches. Many Americans may not realize the risk of diseases spread by insects and ticks in North America. However, a report from NPR highlights the threat Lyme disease poses to people especially in the Northeastern part of the country. Wearing repellents with EPA approved claims can limit the risk of exposure when outside in tick infested areas. |
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