Mosquito

In 2002 the West Nile virus epidemic was the largest human encephalitis even documented in the Western Hemisphere. The West Nile virus has been reported in 44 states and the District of Columbia; the reported human cases have been in 39 states and the District of Columbia. In the early 1990s, a virus subtype with greater epidemic potential and virulence facilitated the geographic expansion and westward spread of WNV; in 1999 the West Nile virus first appeared in the Western hemisphere. The broad…

It’s small, quick and hungry. It weights less than an ounce, and is about ⅛ inch to ¾ inch long (Mosquito, 2015). There are over 3,500 different species around the world (Mosquito Facts-33, 2014). This creature travels throughout the globe sucking blood from thousands of innocent people and leaving behind welts and taking lives. What is the most dangerous animal in the world? The mosquito. The mosquito can live in many types of environments, reproduce quickly, and can bite you unexpectedly. By…

Mosquito Magnet Trap Placement Mosquito traps have proven that they can be effective at eliminating most mosquitoes as well as other flying insects. However, that does not mean that everyone who purchases a mosquito trap is 100% satisfied with the way it performs. In most cases, their issues could be solved if they simply take a look at where their trap is located. In order to have the trap work as well as it can, you need to make sure you understand the right Mosquito Magnet trap placement. Why…

As one of the “big three” global infectious diseases, malaria is spreading at an alarming rate. That being said, what are some of the biological, social, economic, and ecological factors that influence malaria? These factors are addressed by Jeffrey Sachs and Pia Malaney in their article “The Economic and Social Burden of Malaria” as well as by Randall Packard in the first chapter of The Making of a Tropical Disease. While Sachs and Malaney primarily focus on the economic, social, and…

Head Lice is very common with young school age children and very annoying to get rid of. Everyone has had lice at least once. Head Lice are tiny, wingless parasitic insects (Head Lice, 1995-2017). The live in the hair near the scalp and lay their eggs near the scalp also (Head Lice, 1995-2017). Many people have had at least one experience with head lice. Head Louses are tiny six-legged insects (Treating and Preventing Head Lice Infestations, 2005-2017). They cling to people’s necks and…

Survival Uses for Cheesecloth Cheesecloth is available in a number of grades ranging from open to extra-fine weave. Grades are distinguished by the number of threads per inch in each direction. The grades range from #10 to #90 with 10 being the loose grade and 90 being a tight weave. The # 10 grade, for example, has 20 vertical and 12 horizontal threads per inch, while, #90 has 44 vertical and 36 horizontal threads per inch. The other grades fall somewhere in between. The uses are only limited…

Parasites are one of the four major classes of pathogenic organisms that cause infectious diseases (Janeway et al., 2001). They are replete in Sub Sahara Africa because of suitable climate and socio-economic situation favouring their growth and that of their vectors leading to easy spread and perennial persistence of parasitic diseases in the population (Pullan and Brooker, 2008; Froeschke et al., 2010, Patz et al 2000). Plasmodium falciparum is the commonest specie of Plasmodium parasite…

Loiasis is called the African eye worm. It is caused by the parasitic worm Loa loa. This disease is transmitted by horseflies breeding in the forests of West and Central Africa. Loiasis gets its name from the well-known sign which is the visible passing of the Loa loa worm through the eye. Day to day the disease has receives little to no attention. Loiasis considered as a barrier to other disease control efforts. This is so because individuals with a large amount of Loa loa larvae in the blood…

My body continued to be attacked, as I was unable to escape the mass of mosquitoes hovering around me. There was nothing that I could do except helplessly swat at my arms to avoid being bitten repeatedly. As I followed my trail guide aimlessly into the desert I began to feel my arms ache from the jugs of water I was carrying. Eventually reaching our destination I left the gallon jugs for migrants in the future seeking for help. On this hike I personally experienced the treacherous journey…

During the “Controlling Chagas in the Southern Cone of South America” case study, my main responsibility and role was in constructing the Powerpoint Presentation with one other member. I began the project initially by reading the case study, “Controlling Chagas in the Southern Cone of South America”, in the textbook “Case Studies in Global Health: Millions Saved” by Ruth Levine. The case study gave me a broad yet detailed overview of the Chagas disease, control and elimination efforts over the…