The Medical Advisor

Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant risk to public health, affecting nearly 80% of the world's population (1). These tiny insects are responsible for spreading viruses and parasites that cause diseases like dengue fever , yellow fever, chikungunya and malaria. According to the World Health Organization, vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases and cause over 700,000 deaths annually (2). The situation has worsened in recent years due to rapid urbanization and population growth, making natural strategies for protection increasingly important. Mosquito Dangers Lurking in Your Backyard In the U.S. alone, over 200 types of mosquitoes buzz around, with about 12 species capable of spreading diseases that can make you sick. 3  While most mosquitoes are merely a nuisance, it's important to understand the potential threats they carry. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that you can't tell if a mosquito is infected ...

Genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes created by biotechnology company Oxitec have been released in the U.S., even though the long-term effects could be disastrous. Oxitec is using Aedes aegypti (A. aegypti) mosquitoes for this real-world experiment, the species known to carry yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, West Nile and Mayaro, (1) a dengue-like disease. (2) Oxitec genetically engineered the males to carry a "genetic kill switch," such that when they mate with wild female mosquitoes, their offspring inherits the lethal gene and cannot survive or reproduce in the wild. In the U.S., Oxitec is marketing the insects as Oxitec Friendly™ mosquitoes, trying to put a nonthreatening name on a reckless project that could quickly backfire. It may even be too late, as the GE mosquitoes have already been released in multiple locations. EPA Extended Oxitec’s Experimental Use Permit In April 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved an initial Experimental Us...

Cases of dengue fever, also known as "break-bone" fever 1   due to extreme joint pain being one of its hallmark symptoms, are soaring worldwide, with many countries reporting higher than usual numbers. While a majority of the cases are seen in tropical and subtropical areas like South Asia, Africa and South America, 2   U.S. health officials have recently sounded the alarm about a rise of cases in several states. In June 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert regarding the increasing dengue incidents in the Americas. As of the latest epidemiological update from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 3  a record-breaking 9,852,482 suspected dengue cases were recorded from January to June 2024 — that’s twice as many as the reported cases (4.6 million) in 2023. 4  "This represents an increase of 231% compared to the same period in 2023 and 420% compared to the average of the last five years,"...