Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01 ... orm-dengue

"Researchers have made genetically engineered mosquitoes armed with a broadly effective antidengue antibody"
"the gene for the antidengue antibody would spread more slowly and would eventually disappear from the population."
"They suspect that similar weapons against viruses such as chikungunya and Zika could be re-engineered and slipped into the mosquito genome."
If successful, and able to overcome regulatory hurdles, this could lower mortality rates and improve lives

In Townsville, Australia, about 5 years ago, male mosquitoes of the Dengue spreading variety were released. If I have this right, all the male offspring from these males is born sterile. I haven't heard since how effective it was at getting rid of them or cutting down their number.

Roadie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 9:16 pm In Townsville, Australia, about 5 years ago, male mosquitoes of the Dengue spreading variety were released. If I have this right, all the male offspring from these males is born sterile. I haven't heard since how effective it was at getting rid of them or cutting down their number.

I read about that, there was also a trial somewhere else for malaria.
This is a different approach, using genetic engineering, but making it a recessive trait so it eventually dies out. So far, it works in the lab, if it can work in the wild the possibilities are endless re insect transmitted disease, and could be re-engineered to fight against filariasis, schistosomiasis, etc.
We'll see

Super successful!

The first large-scale deployment of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria, which makes them unable to transmit viruses, has stopped all outbreaks of dengue fever in a city in northern Australia for the last four years.
Townsville was one of Australia's big hot-spots for Dengue.
2018 report
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... mosquitoes

Rolling out in SEA soon-ish apparently, but not sure of the details.

Only an infected female Aedes mosquito spreads Dengue.

Cooldude wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:31 am Only an infected female Aedes mosquito spreads Dengue.

Yes, that's true. Just like in humans males are harmless vegetarians quietly going about their business and looking for a quickie, while females are ravenous blood suckers.
If a sterile male (hello vasectomy) mates with a female no offspring are produced. This keeps the numbers down, it still leaves infected females about though, and mosquito chicks are a bit slutty.
This new technique targets the pathogen, not the mosquito.

I hope they come up with something soon. I just got over a bout with Dengue and it's not anything I ever want to repeat again.

Try Chikunyunga, I've had both. So much fun

Joy to the world. I have finally caught Dengue. Having travelled a bit it was always a ritual after getting home in the evening from travel of sticky beaking the area that I would have a shower ( of whatever style was available) then apply bug repellent.
Now here for 6+years and living in Phnom Penhs 172 street I thought I was ok. I have only been in a maximum 2 kilometre radius of my home since January 1 .
I cannot say it is a fun time as everything aches. My eyeballs ache!!! Every now and then one of my toes fel like a horse has stepped on it and it alone. In bed at night I am sure someone comes in and grabs a toe with a pair of pliers. Not funny.

On Sunday I was out and had a couple of beers and at 3am I woke with a headache , eyeballs with pins in them and got up to have a leak. WOW. My feet bones hurt so much as I walked to the loo. I had a shower while i was there as bathed in sweat then when I came out checked temp.... 38 degrees. Oh shit. Not a hangover.
Anyway I muddled through Monday and Tuesday (keeping Temps every couple of hours and sleeping a lot) thinking it may pas but grew a brain this morning and went to doctor. An hour later got a call confirming dengue and advised to return on Friday for a follow up.

The good news I think I have dodged the Coronavirus.

i had it a ways back, took 6 months to feel 90% recovered.
good luck
Rest and lots of liquids an stay off the beer

They dont call Dengue, "break bone fever " for nothing