{"id":31,"date":"2016-03-02T12:18:33","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T12:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/headlines\/?p=31"},"modified":"2019-08-12T15:04:20","modified_gmt":"2019-08-12T15:04:20","slug":"science-is-helping-fight-the-zika-virus-and-the-deadliest-animal-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/headlines\/2016\/03\/02\/science-is-helping-fight-the-zika-virus-and-the-deadliest-animal-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Science is Helping Fight the Zika Virus (and the \u201cdeadliest animal in the world\u201d)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brazil is on the front lines of the mosquito-borne Zika virus epidemic. Last May saw the first confirmed case of Zika in Brazil. Now millions are believed to be infected in Brazil and the virus has spread to 22 other countries and territories. With the evidence suggesting that the virus could also cause a devastating birth defect, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak in the Americas a public health emergency.<\/p>\n

WHO <\/a>claims that the pathogen, which was virtually unheard of in the region a year ago, is spreading so fast that it could infect as many as 3 million to 4 million people within 12 months.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The virus is now making the headlines on every major channel.\u00a0 Airlines are refunding fares to reluctant travelers, while efforts to develop a vaccine are underway. There\u2019s even talk about the need to cancel the 2016 Olympics<\/a> in Rio.<\/p>\n

The Cause<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Zika <\/a>is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also known to transmit diseases such as Dengue, yellow fever, and Chikungunya.\u00a0Key to dealing with the Zika epidemic will be tracking and forecasting the spread of the mosquito population, and then getting rid of the pests.<\/p>\n

Eliminating the Carrier<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When I started investigating how science is aiding in the battle against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, I frequently encountered the term \u201cvector management\u201d.\u00a0 So off to Wikipedia, which succinctly explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn epidemiology, a vector <\/a>is any agent (person, animal, or microorganism) that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many municipalities have vector management systems in place, in which they aim to reduce the population of the \u201cvectors\u201d through reducing the habitat (standing water) and applying pesticides. The problem with the Zika mosquito is that large, area-based spraying may prove less effective, since these mosquitoes prefer to inhabit indoor spaces, such as closets and under beds.<\/p>\n

Right now, a myriad of approaches are being used to prevent Zika, from emptying standing water to wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent.\u00a0 But as long as the carrier mosquitoes remain, so does the risk. Carlos Marcondes, an entomologist who studies disease-carrying insects at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, shared his advice for stopping the epidemic: \u201cPreventing breeding is the only way.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are two main ways that preventative breeding <\/a>can be effective,\u00a0 by either eliminating the population or changing the population so that it cannot carry the virus.<\/p>\n

Researchers (with MATLAB) Taking Aim at the Aedes Aegypti Mosquito<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Brazil is trying an approach to cut wild mosquito populations by genetically engineering and releasing mosquitoes that can\u2019t reproduce. Scientists reduce the populations of virus-carrying mosquitoes by introducing male mosquitos into existing population that cause the next generation to die before reaching maturity.\u00a0 The reason male mosquitoes are used is simple: male mosquitos don\u2019t bite and therefore cannot further spread the disease.<\/p>\n

Combined with other measures, this could be key to stopping the epidemic. Looking to science, there is much work being done on this issue:<\/p>\n