The most infamous, common mosquito disease is malaria, which plagues much of Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Mosquito borne, malaria causes nearly 1,000,000 deaths around the globe each year.

Recently, a team of scientists based in Nigeria and working in seven Sub-Saharan African countries total, announced a promising breakthrough in their search for an effective vaccination that would protect individuals from the disease. At a recent forum held in Seattle, Washington and sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the team presented their findings from clinical trials of RTS, S, also known as Mosquirix. The trials, held in 11 sites total, produced evidence that a series of three vaccinations of Mosquirix severely reduces malaria contraction in children. About 6,000 children have tested the vaccine so far, and their progress has been monitored for one full year.

While these results have been met with much jubilation by the World Health Organization and other global health advocates, its release is not expected until 2015, and it would be capable of making slow strides in the fight against malaria. Although it seems to have been proven to decrease malaria contraction definitely, it has produced less impressive results than similar vaccines against polio or measles, which have virtually eradicated the diseases themselves. Effective permeation of Sub-Saharan African populations with Mosquirix would require significant and efficient government involvement and a re-allocation of government funds and resources to truly tackle the problem. Furthermore, this vaccine would only help reduce malaria rates; it does not affect other diseases caused by mosquitoes, such as dengue fever, which are plaguing tropical areas with alarming rates of increase.

However, this breakthrough is promising. Global health professionals and governing agents from malaria-stricken countries should recognise the value of comprehensive research and trials and should continue to invest time and funding into research for the prevention of mosquito borne diseases. As diseases evolve and develop, research must continue to remain one step ahead. Also, the WHO and other international global health bodies should help develop a plan to finance a mass vaccination process so that these products can be made affordable and reachable for even the most destitute portions of the population. Hopefully malaria and other mosquito diseases will soon go the way of polio and be virtually eradicated

It seems that the people who live in the central part of the state of Florida, in the US, have really got a biting problem on their hands. There has been a great deal of scratching and biting among citizens and tourists recently. The manager of the Orange County Mosquito Control, John Breaud, says that the problem has really exploded in the last few days. They have been receiving calls from all parts of Orange County.

The majority of the calls coming in have been reports of large swarms of black mosquitoes. This is just one of the forty breeds that are located in the state and they are known for being unrelenting biters. This particular species will reproduce by laying their eggs in stagnant flood waters, which may give an explanation to the problem. There was a recent heavy amount of rainfall that moved across the area a few weeks ago, due to a major tropical storm. Apparently, the mosquitoes laid their eggs at that time and they have all hatched, with major appetites.

Other counties in the area are also reporting mosquitoes in very large numbers. Some counties have already began spraying for the biting critters. It seems that the ground spray is helping to reduce the population somewhat; however, some area are planning to further treat the problem with aerial spraying. There are large trucks that spray throughout the night and crews spraying with hand held sprayers in the day. This is an effective treatment, but new mosquitoes are hatching at an alarming rate. Therefore, there are new swarms coming out everyday.

The health officials in the central Florida area are advising all visitors and residents to use bug spray with Deet as an active ingredient at anytime that they plan to be outdoors. It is especially important if you plan to be outdoors around dusk or dawn when the bugs are the most active. The juvenile mosquitoes can fly as much as five to ten miles after they hatch and are very aggressive. Anyone who is close to this area should take precaution to protect themselves from getting bites.

In order to affect the population, temperatures must first dip into the mid 40′s. While the recent weather has been a bit cooler, it has been nowhere near cool enough to effect the major mosquito population in the area