pathogens
Newsletter
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CDC develops new test to identify climate-driven malaria-carrying mosquitoes
In a major stride against malaria, CDC researchers have created a rapid test to identify the Anopheles stephensi mosquito, a malaria carrier thriving due to climate change.
In short:
- Anopheles stephensi, native to Asia, has established itself in Africa due to global warming, threatening 130 million people.
- The CDC’s new test allows rapid identification of this mosquito, enabling quicker responses to potential malaria outbreaks.
- Climate change facilitates the spread and persistence of this mosquito in new regions, increasing malaria risks.
Key quote:
"If we start seeing that mosquito in the United States, transmitting or getting a foothold here, then there’s more concern that we’re going to see more widespread malaria in, potentially, urban areas.”
— Judith O’Donnell, infectious disease specialist at the University of Pennsylvania
Why this matters:
This breakthrough couldn't come at a better time, as the threat of malaria establishing itself in the U.S. looms larger. By nipping these mosquito migrations in the bud, we might just keep malaria at bay and protect vulnerable communities from a resurgence of this ancient scourge. Read more: The Holocene climate experience.
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Credit: U.S. Pacific Fleet/Flickr
Climate change escalates malaria risk for pregnant women in highlands
Rising temperatures are pushing malaria-carrying mosquitoes to higher altitudes, posing a lethal threat to pregnant women in previously unaffected regions.
In short:
- Papua New Guinea's highlands are seeing an increase in malaria cases as mosquitoes move to higher elevations due to climate change.
- Pregnant women in these regions are particularly vulnerable, with severe malaria increasing the risk of maternal and fetal complications.
- The upward shift of malaria mosquitoes threatens to reverse global progress in malaria control.
Key quote:
"When malaria hits new populations that are naive, you tend to get these explosive epidemics that are severe because people don’t have any existing immunity."
— Sadie Ryan, associate professor of medical geography at the University of Florida.
Why this matters:
Climate change is expanding the range of malaria, endangering pregnant women in highland areas who lack immunity. This trend emphasizes a need for enhanced malaria control measures and healthcare access in vulnerable regions. Read more: Coronavirus, climate change, and the environment.
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Credit: Ken Doerr/Flickr
Rethinking our approach to zoonotic diseases in a changing world
Despite historical attempts to eliminate diseases, experts now suggest focusing on control and coexistence.
In short:
- Many diseases, like Lyme and malaria, cannot be eradicated due to their complex ecologies involving multiple hosts and vectors.
- Recent efforts focus on prevention, like using narrow-spectrum antibiotics in natural reservoirs and developing gene-edited mosquitos.
- Historical efforts to eradicate diseases, such as the Soviet campaign against plague, have largely failed and shifted to containment strategies.
Key quote:
"Shifting our resources — which are limited — to prevention and surveillance is the only way to go."
— Susan Jones, ecologist and historian at the University of Minnesota
Why this matters:
Understanding the complexity of zoonotic diseases indicates a need for sustainable prevention strategies rather than eradication. Read more: Cutting forests and disturbing natural habitats increases our risk of wildlife diseases.
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Credit: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation/Flickr
Wild fish host new viruses, including a coronavirus cousin
Researchers have detected multiple new viruses in wild sport fish in Wisconsin, revealing a surprising diversity of pathogens.
In short:
- The University of Wisconsin study found 19 viruses in fish, 17 of which were previously unknown, highlighting the diversity of aquatic pathogens.
- Among the viruses discovered is a distant relative of the coronavirus, stressing the importance of understanding fish health for ecosystem management.
- The study aids fishery management and conservation efforts by identifying viruses that could impact fish health and population stability.
Key quote:
“I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the viruses we found, or some we haven’t found yet, pop up in the future when things like climate change get worse or we have water quality declines for any reason.”
— Tony Goldberg, professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Why this matters:
This research reinforces the importance of monitoring wildlife health as a reflection of ecosystem stability and environmental quality. We need to change how we relate to wildlife, putting their health, and our own, before commercial interests.
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Credit: Louis Reed/Unsplash
Exploring environmental DNA's role in pathogen detection
The search for new pathogens leads scientists to analyze environmental DNA in various settings, providing insights into the microbial world and aiding early outbreak detection.
In short:
- Researchers use environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify a diverse range of microbes in New York City's subway system, revealing a hidden world of bacterial life.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred advancements in eDNA research, which now allows for the rapid identification of pathogens in water, soil, and air.
- The potential of eDNA extends to developing early warning systems for disease outbreaks by monitoring high-risk environments where humans and animals interact.
Key quote:
"We like to say, we’re trying to get left of sneeze."
— Erik Karlsson, virologist at Institut Pasteur du Cambodge
Why this matters:
Understanding and monitoring eDNA can provide early alerts for pathogen outbreaks, contributing to faster responses and potentially saving lives. This research bridges the gap between environmental science and public health, offering new tools for combating infectious diseases.
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Credit: Adam Baker/Flickr
This B.C. bighorn sheep herd’s fight for survival
Between a mysterious illness, dangerous weather and vanishing habitat, a herd of bighorn sheep almost disappeared from Tobacco Plains Indian Band’s backyard. To bring them back means returning the land to how it looked generations ago.
Credit: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr
Siberia’s ice is melting, revealing its past and endangering its future
Sheets of the softening land have emerged for the first time in hundreds of thousands of years, revealing skeletons, disease and awakening life.
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