Zika and Other Mosquito Borne Diseases: Home

Peter Hotez: Yellow fever has broken out of Brazil. The U.S. isn't prepared.

Houston Chronicle, June 20, 2025

"Vaccine researcher Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine, became a national figure during the COVID-19 outbreak — the straight-talking bow-tied scientist who, for awhile, seemed to be on every network from Fox to CNBC. He still monitors the world for disease outbreaks, keeping an eye out for the next pathogen that could threaten the world. These days, he said recently, he’s worried that an old threat — yellow fever —  is about to come roaring back. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity." – Lisa Gray

Public health officials confirm first case of West Nile of 2025

Texas Department of State Health Services, July 2, 2025

The first Texas case of West Nile illness in 2025 was confirmed June 24 in a resident of Brazos County, according to public health officials. The Department of State Health Services confirmed the resident was diagnosed with West Nile fever. “Texans should be aware that mosquitoes transmit disease, and some of these illnesses, like West Nile and dengue, can be severe,” said Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer A. Shuford, MD, MPH. “But taking steps to prevent mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding areas around homes are proactive measures that can reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness.”

Texas sees largest number of reported dengue fever cases since 2002, public health officials say

Houston Chronicle, November 25, 2024

In November of 2024, Texas saw the worst annual spike of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness that can be fatal, in more than 20 years, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The state also saw its first report of a locally acquired — meaning a confirmed case in an individual who did not recently travel to an area considered at risk for the disease — case of dengue fever this year in a resident of Cameron County, according to the department. The Texas DSHS has tracked 106 confirmed travel-related cases of dengue fever and at least one death so far this year, making it the worst year for the disease in Texas since 2002.