Doctor Anthony Fauci recovering from reported West Nile infection
In addition to the West Nile virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently warned about a spike in dengue fever. Symptoms of dengue fever include aches, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and fatigue, and they can last for up to a week.
How do mosquitoes decide who to bite?
Research shows that female mosquitoes find humans by tracking scent cues, like chemicals from our skin and breath. Mosquitoes are also drawn to certain colors. University of Washington biology professor Jeffrey Riffell and his team study mosquito sensory systems, especially their sense of smell, to understand how mosquitoes find food.
WASHINGTON – Dr. Anthony Fauci, the prominent face of the COVID-19 pandemic and former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is recovering after being hospitalized with the West Nile virus, a spokesperson told FOX News.
Where the 83-year-old Washington, D.C.-area resident became infected was not disclosed, but communities up and down the East Coast have reported increased detections of mosquito-borne illnesses, including the West Nile virus.
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, more than 2,200 people annually report getting the virus, but the figure may be an undercount because around 80% of all cases are asymptomatic and only detected through a blood test.
Health experts estimate that only about 1 in 150 infected individuals will develop severe symptoms, which can include inflammation, fever, muscle weakness and seizures.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 03: Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic at the Rayburn House Office Building on June 03, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Subcommittee is holding a hearing on the findings from a fifteen month Republican-led probe of former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci and the COVID-19 pandemic's origins. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / Getty Images)
NEW INVASIVE MOSQUITO SPECIES SPREADING IN FLORIDA
Spikes in reported cases tend to occur during the final months of the rainy season and before temperatures drop to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Eva Buckner, an assistant professor at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Medical Entomology Laboratory, previously told FOX Weather that there is a notable decrease in mosquito activity when overnight lows bottom out around 50 degrees.
In places like New York City and Washington, D.C., the temperature benchmark is typically not reached until October but can vary depending on the year’s weather patterns.
Events such as tropical storms and hurricanes are known to produce large amounts of standing water, which can act as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
CDC tips on protecting yourself from mosquito bites. (Centers for Disease Control / FOX Weather)
Earlier this month, the remnants of Hurricane Debby produced significant rainfall along the Eastern Seaboard, triggering an uptick in mosquito activity.
Suffolk County, New York, which encompasses much of central and eastern Long Island, is the latest community to warn about the presence of the West Nile virus in mosquitoes.
The National Park Service detected the virus in the mosquito population through samples collected from traps set up by its monitoring program.
Officials said they stand at the ready to perform actions such as larviciding, spraying or even closing areas to minimize potential hazards.
And in nearby Massachusetts, several towns are encouraging their residents to try to stay indoors from around sunset through the late evening to reduce interactions with the insects.
CDC WARNS OF SURGE IN TRAVEL-RELATED DENGUE FEVER CASES IN US
In addition to the West Nile virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently warned about a significant spike in dengue fever cases across the Americas.
Both illnesses are transmitted by mosquitoes, but health experts say symptoms can vary and, in cases of severe dengue fever, include bleeding, bruising and hemorrhaging.
To date, more than 11 million cases have been reported worldwide, with significant concentrations in South America and southeastern Asia.
Like many other mosquito-borne illnesses, neither West Nile virus nor dengue fever has a unique cure, but their health impacts can be managed with medications and appropriate care.