Aedes aegypti mosquito News

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is the main vector that transmits the dengue virus.

During a chikungunya or dengue virus outbreak, aggressive vector management and personal protection activities are required to effectively reduce mosquito density and prevent mosquitoes from feeding on infected people.

Brazilian scientists have identified another type of Zika-transmitting mosquito, responsible for over 1,700 cases of microcephaly in newborns in the South American country since October 2015.

The legislature of the west-central state of Mato Grosso has also approved a law to allow cities to use drones to combat the mosquito.

Brazil is one of the Latin American nations most affected by Zika, which in this country is suspected of being associated with a significant increase in cases of babies born with abnormally small skulls, a condition known as microcephaly.

President Dilma Rousseff said on Wednesday that Brazil must wage war against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the Zika virus linked to a surge in cases of a dangerous birth defect, focussing on eliminating the insect`s breeding grounds.

Brazilian health authorities on Thursday announced that up to 2,782 cases of infants to be born with brain damage have been reported. 

Though the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which causes dengue, is found in abundance in the northeastern states, the deaths due to the disease are fortunately very minimal in the region, experts said here on Tuesday.