Zika mosquito: thrives in hot weather, hard to wipe out

…Five things to know about the bug: FIRST IN AFRICA Aedes aegypti is a small, dark, hot weather mosquito with white markings and banded legs. Scientists believe the species originated in Africa, but came to the Americas on slave ships. It’s continued to spread through shipping and airplanes. Now it’s found through much of theContinue reading “Zika mosquito: thrives in hot weather, hard to wipe out”

US Senate Fails to Pass $1.1B in Funding to Fight Zika

With no vaccine on the immediate horizon and America’s mosquito season well underway, Zahn said, “The only guaranteed way to prevent [Zika birth defects] is contraception. So access to contraception both domestically and abroad is crucial to address this issue.” Access to contraception became a central point of contention in the Senate debate leading upContinue reading “US Senate Fails to Pass $1.1B in Funding to Fight Zika”

Zika virus ‘scarier than thought’ says US – BBC News

The Zika virus is “scarier” than first thought and its impact on the US could be greater than predicted, public health officials have admitted. A wider range of birth defects has been linked to the virus, said Dr Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the mosquitoes that carry theContinue reading “Zika virus ‘scarier than thought’ says US – BBC News”