Florida officials warn of ‘wildly unusual’ disease outbreak, declare state of emergency

Florida officials warn of ‘wildly unusual’ disease outbreak, declare state of emergency

A mosquito-borne illness that’s typically found in other countries has reached a new high in the US. Florida health officials have declared a local state of emergency over dengue fever, nicknamed “breakbone fever” for causing such agonizing pain in the joints and bones that they feel like they’re breaking. The viral illness has become more … Read more

Dangerous mosquito-borne virus spreads in Florida as officials warn of rising cases

Dangerous mosquito-borne virus spreads in Florida as officials warn of rising cases

Florida mosquito-control agencies are stepping up surveillance, inspections and spraying, as officials expect the number of locally acquired dengue fever cases in Tampa Bay and across the state to rise in the coming weeks. As of Sept. 1, the number of dengue fever cases originating in Florida this year had climbed to 33 in Tampa Bay and … Read more

‘Breakbone fever’ common in tropical countries is spreading in Florida

Dozens of people in Florida have been diagnosed with a mosquito borne-illness more commonly found in tropical countries. The frightening thing is: They caught it here. Nicknamed “breakbone fever” because it causes agonizing pain in the joints and bones — making it feel like bones are breaking, especially in the legs and back — the … Read more

Mosquito killer retailing for $988 swears to battle rising California West Nile threat

As West Nile Virus creeps into California, a new AI-powered mosquito killer could be just what Californians need to protect them from the world’s deadliest creature. The Photon Matrix is a high-tech zapper combines futuristic light detection and ranging technology (LiDAR), radar, with AI directing a precision laser to detect mosquitoes and zap them dead … Read more

The ‘world’s deadliest animal’ is responsible for killing more than 700,000 people a year

Lions, tigers and bears might make you shout “oh my,” but they’ve got nothing on nature’s top killer. Around the globe, one creature is responsible for more than 700,000 human deaths each year — enough for the CDC to dub it the “world’s deadliest animal.” And here’s the kicker: You don’t have to venture into … Read more

Brain-swelling disease carried by mosquitos is surging — with highest numbers so far in 22 years

Brain-swelling disease carried by mosquitos is surging — with highest numbers so far in 22 years

The US is seeing surging numbers of a virus that can cause life-threatening swelling in and around the brain and spinal cord. And cases will continue to climb, as August has historically been the month where most cases appear. This summer, the country saw the earliest start of the West Nile virus season — and … Read more

West Nile Virus turns deadly in California as officials issue update

West Nile Virus turns deadly in California as officials issue update

California has recorded its first West Nile virus death of 2026 after a Kings County resident died from the mosquito-borne illness, health officials announced Monday. The death comes weeks after Kings County confirmed its first human case of the 2026 season, according to KGPW. California has recorded its first West Nile virus death of 2026 … Read more

Urgent warning as brain-swelling disease surges in multiple Southern California neighborhoods

Urgent warning as brain-swelling disease surges in multiple Southern California neighborhoods

A dangerous mosquito-borne virus that can cause deadly brain swelling is surging across Orange County — and officials are now sending trucks into one hard-hit city to fight back. West Nile virus has been detected in mosquito samples from 13 Orange County cities this season, with the number of positive samples more than doubling in just … Read more

Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science says it’s a bad idea

Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science says it’s a bad idea

WASHINGTON — You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad? A lot of things can cause itchiness, sometimes serious diseases. Whatever the cause, doctors have long warned that scratching too much can damage the skin. Now researchers better … Read more

Horrifying video shows plague of parasite-ridden mosquitoes swarming as tourists take cover in their cars

Horrifying video shows plague of parasite-ridden mosquitoes swarming as tourists take cover in their cars

It was cloudy with a chance of skeet-balls. Tourists in Russia had to hide in their vehicles as a biblical swarm of mosquitoes blackened the skies, as seen in bloodcurdling footage. The visitors had traveled to Lake Shchuchye in the Buryatia region for a scenic getaway, Jam Press reported. The swarms forced motorists to sequester … Read more

Deadly virus now spreads to crows in San Diego — as officials issue warning

Deadly virus now spreads to crows in San Diego — as officials issue warning

West Nile virus has been found in two dead crows in Southern California, officials have revealed — a week after it was detected in a mosquito. San Diego County officials detected the new cases in Rolando in East County and near Encanto and North Bay Terraces. While there are no current human cases reported, the … Read more

Urgent warning as deadly West Nile virus is discovered in California

Urgent warning as deadly West Nile virus is discovered in California

A dangerous mosquito-borne virus has surfaced in California, prompting officials to intensify surveillance and urging residents to protect themselves from potentially infected mosquitoes. The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District announced that a mosquito sample collected in the North Shore community tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the area’s first detection of the … Read more

Common insect repellent now attracts mosquitoes — signaling a ‘blood meal’ for bugs: study

Common insect repellent now attracts mosquitoes — signaling a ‘blood meal’ for bugs: study

Research now shows that mosquitoes may bite the hand that feeds them Deet — at least in time. The commonly used chemical — which is the gold standard ingredient approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act as a mosquito repellent — has recently been shown to potentially attract the pesky insects, as they’ve … Read more

Hantavirus concerns? 4 other emerging animal-to-human diseases that can be extremely deadly

Hantavirus concerns? 4 other emerging animal-to-human diseases that can be extremely deadly

Hantavirus has been all over the news lately due to a shocking outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The virus is typically transmitted to humans when they breathe airborne particles from the dried droppings, urine or saliva of infected rodents. That’s how Oscar winner Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy, died last … Read more

Exclusive | Tick, mosquito plagues could suck New York dry this summer — here’s how to keep yourself safe

Exclusive | Tick, mosquito plagues could suck New York dry this summer — here’s how to keep yourself safe

There could be a serious up-tick. The Big Apple is about to be bled dry — and not just because of ferocious tax hikes. This spring and summer, NYC could see an influx of biblical levels of disease-harboring ticks and mosquitoes, borne aloft by warming weather and booming vector populations. It’s enough to have locals … Read more

Bees & wasps & mosquitos — oh, my!: Yelp reveals the top US cities buzzing with pest activity

Bees & wasps & mosquitos — oh, my!: Yelp reveals the top US cities buzzing with pest activity

What a buzzkill. Pests are bugging cities nationwide as spring swarm season begins, and Yelp has revealed which US cities are buzzing with the most pest activity. As temperatures rise and flowers start to bloom, bees, wasps and mosquitos are becoming more active. Pest control demand is rising nationwide, with Yelp searches up 34% yaer-over-year. … Read more

Travel warning for 16 countries with higher risk of a disease that can cause brain bleeds, bloody vomit

Travel warning for 16 countries with higher risk of a disease that can cause brain bleeds, bloody vomit

Spring breakers and summer vacationers, pack some extra bug spray. The CDC updated warnings for travelers this week, following outbreaks of a mosquito-borne disease that can cause excessive brain bleeding and vomiting. After detecting a higher-than-expected number of cases, a level 1 global travel advisory was issued by the agency. The CDC updated a travel … Read more

Untreatable tropical virus prompts travel advisories for Americans going abroad

Untreatable tropical virus prompts travel advisories for Americans going abroad

US health officials have issued travel advisories for Americans planning trips to certain tropical countries amid outbreaks of an untreatable mosquito-borne disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday that it has issued Level 2 travel advisories for Cuba, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Guangdong Province in southern China, advising Americans to “practice enhanced … Read more

Honeymooner shows off her ‘insane reaction’ to bug bites — leaving people asking if she vacationed in Jumanji

Honeymooner shows off her ‘insane reaction’ to bug bites — leaving people asking if she vacationed in Jumanji

Talk about being bitten by the travel bug. A newlywed’s honeymoon took a terrifying turn when insect bites triggered an “insane reaction” that left her legs and feet covered in pus-filled blisters so painful she could barely walk. “It’s going to terrify me every time I go away from now on!” Tiktoker @thelifeofzo_ admitted in … Read more