dengue fever

A common house mosquito (Culex pipiens) is about to sink her six-weaponed proboscis into a human arm. This type transmits West Nile virus by biting infected birds, then biting humans.

WATCH: Mosquitoes Use 6 Needles To Suck Your Blood

11:00am June 07, 2016

by Gabriela Quirós

Beyond pesky, mosquitoes kill hundreds of thousands of people worldwide each year. And the bites aren't random. A mouth packed with sensors, drills, spears and straws guides the bug to blood.

Mosquito larvae fill the cup of stale water that entomologist Luis Hernandez dips from a stack of old tires in a suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Races To Stop Zika's Mosquitoes Before Rains Begin

7:55am February 29, 2016

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is an old foe, spreading yellow fever and dengue on the islands long before Zika gained a foothold. How do you stop an insect that can breed in a teaspoonful of stale water?

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With CDC Help, Puerto Rico Aims To Get Ahead Of Zika

6:55pm February 26, 2016

So far, the U.S. territory has reported 117 Zika cases, including five pregnant women. But health officials say the real test will come when April and May rains bring more mosquitoes.

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Scientists say they still have a lot to learn about Zika before they'll have a vaccine ready for people.

Why Scientists Hope To Inject Some People With Zika Virus

6:55pm February 25, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

There's no vaccine yet, but Zika researchers are racing to find a good candidate. After testing it in animals, checking for effectiveness in humans might include injecting Zika into healthy people.

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Scott Weaver, of the University of Texas Medical Branch, was one of only a few scientists studying Zika before the latest outbreak in Latin America.

Virus Profilers Race To Figure Out What Makes Zika Tick

3:14pm February 10, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Though Zika was discovered in 1947, few scientists since had studied the virus. Now, while some check its genes, others turn to placental cells for clues to any link between Zika and birth defects.

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The Aedes Aegypti mosquito has been linked to both dengue fever and the Zika virus.

State Of Emergency On Hawaii's Big Island Over Dengue Fever Outbreak

5:33pm February 09, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Hawaii has nearly 250 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus since September 2015. State health officials say dengue symptoms include fever, rash, severe headaches and eye, joint and muscle pain.

If you're heading to China, check out the list of recommended vaccines. And be careful on that ice!

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Mumps: Medical Tips For Year-End Travelers

3:46pm December 18, 2015

by Fran Kritz

Winter travelers need to think about measles, mumps, polio and bug repellents.

Graphic: How Prepared Is Your State For The Next Outbreak?

Is Your State Ready For The Next Infectious Outbreak? Probably Not

4:12pm December 19, 2014

by Nancy Shute

Public health has a way of slipping off the radar when people aren't scared about Ebola or anthrax. But that doesn't mean the threats go away. And most states aren't prepared for the next one.

The dengue virus has an icosahedral shape, similar to the pattern on a soccer ball. Antibodies stop the virus by binding to its surface.

Dengue Fever Strikes Millions. Now Scientists Hope To Strike Back

11:28am December 17, 2014

by Michaeleen Doucleff

It's called "breakbone fever" because that's how bad you feel when you get it. There's no cure. But scientists have found powerful antibodies that could lead to the development of a simple vaccine.

The World Cup will come to the Arena de Sao Paola, shown here when it was under construction last fall. Brazil is also making a big push to control the local mosquitoes that can spread dengue fever.

Ready, Set, Spray! Brazil Battles Dengue Ahead Of The World Cup

7:11pm May 29, 2014

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

With more than a million visitors expected for the games, Brazilian authorities are trying to control the mosquitoes that carry the disease and stop a sudden spike of cases in Sao Paulo.

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