How Climate Change Drives the Spread of Oropouche Virus in Latin America

StephanieLQJuly 6, 2025July 13, 2025013 mins

As climate change reshapes ecosystems across Latin America, a silent viral threat is emerging: the Oropouche virus (OROV). Once confined to forested regions, OROV is now infecting thousands in urban centers—spread by tiny midges thriving in warmer, wetter environments. With no vaccine or treatment, and symptoms that mimic dengue, the virus is spreading under the radar. This article explores how deforestation, rising temperatures, and rapid urbanization are fueling OROV’s rise, and what must be done to stop it.

Yellow flag pinned in Brazil. Source: Lara Jameson via Pexels.

Climate Crisis Ignites Dengue Epidemic in Latin America

StephanieLQJuly 1, 2025July 9, 202509 mins

Climate change is fueling dengue outbreaks in Latin America. Learn how extreme heat and AI models in Brazil are reshaping global disease surveillance.

Mexico’s High-Risk Zones for Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya

StephanieLQJune 23, 2025June 23, 202509 mins

Figure 1. Anti-dengue campaign in Autlán, Mexico. Source: perliux via Flickr. Like Colombia and other Latin American countries, Mexico has faced growing threats from Aedes aegypti– borne viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Statistically speaking, dengue cases surged by 385 % in Mexico during epidemiological week 24 of 2024. Shockingly, 59% of these cases…

US Mexico Bilateral at World Health Assembly. Source: United States Mission Geneva via Flickr.

Dengue in Mexico: Why Cases Are Spiking and Who’s Most at Risk

StephanieLQJune 20, 2025June 20, 2025210 mins

Mexico faces a growing dengue epidemic in 2025. Learn which virus strains, regions, and risk factors are driving severe cases and hospital deaths.

Why Mosquito Surveillance is Failing to Stop Dengue in Latin America

StephanieLQJune 12, 2025June 14, 2025012 mins

Despite rising dengue outbreaks, many Latin American countries struggle with fragmented mosquito surveillance, limited diagnostics, and underfunded public health systems. Without stronger surveillance and investment, the true scale of dengue transmission remains hidden, delaying effective responses.

Dengue Out of Control in Latin America: Can Surveillance Turn the Tide?

StephanieLQJune 9, 2025July 12, 2025016 mins

Figure 1. CDC Gravid Trap for mosquito surveillance and pathogen testing. Source: NIAID, Flickr. In 2024, Latin America and the Caribbean faced the worst dengue outbreak in recorded history, with over 12.6 million suspected cases and more than 7,700 deaths, according to a recent Reuters report. The crisis has escalated into a major public health…

Mosquitoes, Myths, and Mistakes: What’s Really Driving Dengue in Colombian Homes

StephanieLQMay 31, 2025July 12, 202508 mins

Colombia continues to be one of the countries most impacted by dengue fever in Latin America. A recent study by Jaramillo-Ramirez et al. published in Scientific Reports, sheds new light on how community knowledge, attitudes, and environmental conditions shape the spread of this mosquito-borne disease. Conducted in Restrepo, Meta (a dengue-endemic municipality) the research reveals…

Dengue Fever in Colombia: What You Need to Know

StephanieLQMay 27, 2025July 13, 2025117 mins

In 2024, Colombia faced its worst dengue outbreak in history—reporting over 290,000 cases and ranking among the top five globally. Driven by climate change, rapid urbanization, and virus diversity, the surge exposed deep public health challenges. But innovative strategies, like deploying Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in Cali, are offering new hope for sustainable dengue control in Latin America.

Fighting Dengue with AI: Nature-Inspired Mosquito Control

StephanieLQApril 30, 2025July 13, 202508 mins

Artificial intelligence is transforming mosquito control in Brazil by enhancing biological strategies like Wolbachia deployment, predator analysis, and drone-assisted hotspot detection. As shown in research by Beraldo et al., integrating AI with nature-based methods offers a smarter, more sustainable path to dengue prevention, reducing reliance on pesticides while empowering communities.

Harnessing Nature for Sustainable Dengue Control in Latin America

StephanieLQApril 30, 2025July 13, 202509 mins

Figure 1. Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. Picture taken by Muhammad Mahdi Karim from Wikipedia. Dengue fever remains a persistent global health threat, especially in tropical regions like Latin America. Despite political instability and recent reduced federal funding for infectious disease research dengue virus continues to spread, with mosquito breeding and incidence rates showing…

Five factors behind Latin America’s Alarming Dengue Spike

StephanieLQFebruary 8, 2025July 13, 2025013 mins

Dengue is exploding across Latin America, with over 12 million cases and 1,000+ deaths reported in 2024 alone. What’s driving this surge? From invasive mosquito species and fast-evolving viruses to vaccine gaps and climate extremes, the region is facing a perfect storm of risk. In this post, we break down five key factors fueling the spike, and what it means for the future of public health in Latin America.

walle as an example of artificial intelligence

What Hispanics think of using AI in healthcare and medicine

StephanieLQMarch 31, 2023February 8, 2025710 mins

AI is creeping into our lives, including medical research and provider care. But, what do Hispanics think of using AI in health and medicine?