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Researchers from the University of Florida's Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI) and Texas A&M University recently discovered that local kissing bugs in Florida are carrying the parasite that causes Chagas disease, which can be fatal to humans.
This ten-year study, published on July 7, 2025, in the Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Diseases, involved the collection of over 300 kissing bugs from 23 counties across Florida.
Interestingly, more than one-third of the bugs were found in people's homes.

Since the beginning of the Zika virus epidemic in 2014, much has been learned about the effects of antenatal exposure to this severe, mosquito-transmitted virus.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zika virus infection during pregnancy poses severe risks to the fetus, ranging from congenital Zika syndrome, microcephaly, to milder neurodevelopmental issues.
Congenital Zika syndrome is characterized by a variety of alterations that can impact cognitive, language, and motor development.

Every year, approximately 30 million infants are born in regions of Africa at risk for malaria infection. Without specific treatment for these vulnerable infants, malaria can quickly lead to complications and become fatal.
Until now, treatments have only been approved for infants weighing more than 4.5 kilograms, resulting in a significant treatment gap.
On July 8, 2025, Novartis announced that Swissmedic had approved Coartem® Baby (Riamet® Baby) as the first malaria medication specifically for newborns and young infants.

West Nile virus WNV) is the most common disease transmitted by mosquitoes in the continental United States, primarily in the south and western states.
According to the U.S. CDC, cases are seasonal, usually beginning in the summer and continuing through the fall.
As of July 1, 2025, the CDC reported 14 states had reported 34 WNV cases this year.
In Texas, 63 contained pools and one WNV infection have been reported in 2025.