Zoonotic & Vector-Borne Diseases

A new commentary describes the EEE virus along and points to research and development that is needed to address the growing threat of the virus and other vector-borne conditions.

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine reveals that genetic testing can identify patients with leishmaniasis unlikely to respond to conventional treatments, allowing clinicians to find candidates for alternative therapies ahead of time.

Incorporating a signaling protein known as B cell activating factor into the rabies vaccine improved speed and strength of the antibody responses, investigators at Thomas Jefferson University found.

A new study demonstrates that having access to mobile phone location data can provide helpful information on an outbreak’s spread through the urban environment.

The vaccine candidate, TAK-003, is based on a live-attenuated dengue serotype 2 virus, which provides the genetic “backbone” for all 4 serotypes.

Zika virus was previously only found in regions of Asia, the Pacific Islands, South America, and Africa. ECDC has now confirmed 3 locally acquired cases in southern Europe.

By repurposing the HIV treatment rilpivirine, investigators have opened up possibilities for treating Zika virus and other flavivirus infections which overlap with HIV.

A group provides an overview of ongoing research and current approaches being evaluated for the prevention of tick-borne disease.

As of October 8, 2019, a total of 21 individuals have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella across 13 states.

An accidental discovery of a thermostable protein leads to the creation of an engineered vaccine that promises to be a boon to developing countries.

A total of 543 human cases of West Nile virus disease have been reported to the CDC in 46 states and the District of Columbia as of September 24, 2019.

A 10th human case of EEE in Massachusetts has also become the state’s second fatality, the state Department of Public Health has announced.

The vaccination schedule in Kenya will consist of 4 doses of the RTS,S vaccine: 3 doses given between 6 and 9 months of age and the fourth dose given at 24 months.

Although Cuba reported no cases of Zika virus in 2017 and 2018, investigators used travel data and genomic epidemiology to uncover a large, “hidden” Zika outbreak.

The total number of communities at critical risk of the mosquito-borne Eastern equine encephalitis stands at 28 statewide. Thirty-seven other towns are considered at high risk for EEE, while 126 are at moderate risk.

The African country was to be the third participant in a pilot program that would’ve inoculated 360,000 children against the mosquito-borne virus.

West Nile virus cases have been relatively low overall this summer season but, following a wetter than usual season, Arizona has already seen 6 times the normal number of seasonal cases.

In an investigation, 2 molecules, VU0071063 and pinacidil, were effective in reducing saliva secretion and blood ingestion in ticks.

According to the CDC, serologic assays that use a second enzyme immunoassay are acceptable alternatives to western immunoblot assays.

Although antibodies normally shield us from infection, a new study suggests that certain maternal antibodies may actually make it easier for Zika virus to gain a foothold and cause birth defects.

In total, 24 Massachusetts communities are now considered high risk for EEE virus and 18 communities have been designated to be at moderate risk.

Sterilization by radiation plus infection with Wolbachia bacteria in male mosquitoes can go a long way toward lowering the burden of deadly disease.

Investigators in the first human trial of a MERS-CoV candidate report strong immune responses and no serious adverse events, advancing the vaccine candidate to phase 1/2a and phase 2 trials.

The Florida Department of Health has confirmed that a locally-acquired case of dengue has been documented in Miami-Dade County.

From January 2019 to July 20, 2019, the Philippines has recorded 146,062 cases of dengue and 622 deaths, a 98% increase from the same period in 2018.

A pair of new studies is raising concern that standard malaria therapies may no longer work for large portions of the world’s malaria cases.

We're separating fact from fiction regarding the investigation into these concerns.

The survey of households found that although 80% of residents had heard of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, less than half used pesticides to prevent the presence of ticks.

Of the 216 infants studied, 31.5% had delayed neurodevelopment and/or eye abnormalities and/or hearing deficits when evaluated as late as 32 months of age.

Traditional testing for river blindness, a neglected tropical disease that World Health Organization aims to eradicate, is not as sensitive as it could be.