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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Mosquito That Carries Yellow Fever Seen in California

Aedes aegypti, the species of mosquito that transmits deadly tropical diseases including yellow fever and the dengue virus, has made its way through California’s Central Valley to the Bay Area this year.



The aggressive mosquito, which is dark with white markings banding its legs, was first spotted in Madera and Clovis in June, followed by Fresno and the Bay Area city of San Mateo in August, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Unlike other mosquitoes, the Aedes aegypti prefers biting people rather than animals and bites at all hours of the day, not just at night.

Controlling the spread of these mosquitoes is difficult since they need as little as a teaspoon of water to lay their eggs, meaning they could easily breed in anyone’s yard.

Fortunately, none of the mosquitoes trapped by vector control groups have been shown to carry any diseases.

The possibility for disease transmission still exists, albeit a small one, as cases of dengue and yellow fever are incredibly rare in the state. To infect a person with these diseases, the Aedes aegypti mosquito must bite an infected person first.

From 1970 to 2011, there have only been 9 cases of yellow fever in the U.S., all in unvaccinated travelers to West Africa or South America, where the disease is endemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since 2010, 200 people in California have been diagnosed with dengue fever, all of whom were infected while travelling outside the U.S, Dr. Vickie Kramer, a vector borne disease specialist, told the Sacramento Bee.

Still, public health officials believe the arrival of the Aedes aegypti mosquito is cause for worry. In 2009, cases of dengue fever, along................... Continue reading>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.medicaldaily.com/mosquito-carries-yellow-fever-dengue-spotted-california-260380

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