Pathogenos

Science, Microbes, and Latinos

Year: 2025

How to Tell Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika Apart in Children 

Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika often circulate together, but in children they do not behave the same. Drawing on 18 years of pediatric data from Nicaragua, this analysis shows how symptom patterns and simple blood tests, rather than fever alone, can reliably distinguish these infections in real clinical settings.

Oropouche Virus Is Expanding: Are You in a Newly Emerging Hotspot? 

Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging vector-borne disease rapidly expanding beyond the Amazon Basin and into new regions of Latin America and the Caribbean. Using advanced environmental and machine-learning models, researchers show that deforestation, land-use change, and climate conditions are creating widespread environments suitable for OROV transmission.

Which mosquito traps work? A research study gives key factors

Which mosquito traps work best? A study in the Peruvian Amazon found that UV light traps outperformed others, capturing more mosquitoes and greater species diversity. The results show that different traps attract different species and that forest areas harbor far more mosquitoes than human-occupied sites, highlighting the importance of trap choice for effective dengue surveillance.

Who Is Most at Risk of Severe Dengue? Key Factors You Need to Know

Dengue is rising across Latin America, and new research reveals who is most at risk. This review highlights the key factors linked to severe disease, like secondary infections, certain symptoms, and vulnerable age groups—so you can recognize danger early and stay protected.

Limiting Warming to 1.5°C Could Prevent Millions of Dengue Cases

Climate change is accelerating dengue risk across Latin America, with new high-resolution models showing that global warming could add millions of infections in the coming decades. Research from Colón-González et al. reveals that limiting warming to 1.5 °C dramatically reduces future dengue cases, shortens transmission seasons, and offers major public health benefits for Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and other vulnerable regions.

Brazil’s DENV-3 Comeback Hits Women, Children, and Indigenous Groups Hardest

Brazil is facing a major dengue surge in 2024, driven by the reemergence of the DENV-3 serotype after 15 years. New surveillance data reveal nearly 2 million suspected cases in just three months, with women, children, and Indigenous people disproportionately affected. As climate pressures, social inequality, and low immunity collide, Brazil now accounts for much of Latin America’s rising dengue burden, highlighting urgent gaps in vaccination, mosquito control, and equitable healthcare access.

Inside the Aedes Mosquito: Which Arbovirus Wins the Battle for Your Blood?

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, but chikungunya dominates infection rates in Mérida, Yucatán. This study highlights how mosquito density influences transmission and why accurate surveillance is critical for preventing outbreaks.

Artificial Light at Night Raises Your Risk of Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is more than an environmental nuisance, it’s a growing public health risk. A new study reveals that brief exposure to nighttime light can double the biting rate of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, heightening the risk of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission across Latin America’s rapidly urbanizing regions. As cities grow brighter, so does the hidden danger buzzing in the dark.

Aedes Mosquitoes: The Global Threat Behind Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are key vectors behind dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Discover how their feeding habits, infection rates, and adaptability fuel global arbovirus outbreaks.

Global Study Finds High H. pylori Rates in Children

A groundbreaking 2024 Gastroenterology study reveals that Helicobacter pylori infection remains alarmingly high among children worldwide, especially in Latin America. Despite progress in adults, roughly one in three children still carries this cancer-linked bacterium. Learn why early childhood infection matters, how it fuels future gastric cancer risk, and what public-health strategies could help protect the next generation.

Dengue Fever Symptoms and Safe OTC Remedies Explained

Uncover how dengue virus triggers fever, pain, and rash. Learn key dengue fever symptoms and safe over-the-counter treatments.

How Type I Interferons Protect Latinos from Dangerous Viruses

Discover how Type I interferons power the body’s natural defense against dengue and other viruses, shaping Latino immunity and future therapies.