Husky best for spreading viruses

The mosquito species propagating in Ockelbosjukan has been identified.

With this knowledge, researchers hope to stop future explosions. And with the same method of research, we now want to know if Swedish mosquitoes could spread even more serious infections.

A major epidemic of Ockelbosjukan occurred in Sweden in 2013. Since then, researchers at the University of Umeå have managed to trace the virus at the origin of the disease, the viral virus, in Lövångertrakten mosquitoes in Västerbotten. Now they have also discovered which species best propagates the virus.

Limit the spread

They collected mosquitoes in a laboratory and set up a method to infect them with the virus. After a few weeks, mosquitoes can transmit the infection. Different species have been included to compare their ability to transfer the virus. The best seemed to be the northern housewife.

"When we know which species of mosquito best transmits this virus, we think we can target this mosquito to limit the spread of Ockelbosjukan," says Professor Magnus Evander of Umeå University.

"Now that we have this mosquito-infecting system in place, we can also treat your other virus, such as Zika virus and West Nile fever, which are likely to enter Sweden. our Swedish mosquitoes can transmit these viruses, and there is a risk of spreading exotic viruses in Sweden, says Magnus Evander.

Map of epidemics

Ockelbosjukan is a viral disease that can cause high fever, rash and persistent joint pain. There are annual cases of disease, but there are regular major epidemics.

"We do not really know the cause of the outbreaks and, with the help of this study, we will be able to map it in the future," said Magnus Evander.

The study was conducted at the University of Umeå in collaboration with the Total Defense Research Institute.

November 1, 2018 8:37 p.m.