Publications by authors named "Derek At Cummings"
Fluorescent powders are one of the most common external markers used to study mosquito behavior and ecology. For their reliable and practical use, it is important to evaluate their effect on biological parameters such as survival, blood-feeding, and mobility. We evaluated the effect of five different fluorescent powders (Day-Glo ® ECO Series) on the survival of different age cohorts, blood-feeding success, and tethered flight speed on Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) adult females.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study explores the use of fluorescent powders as insect markers for investigating the behavior of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, particularly concerning disease transmission risks like survival and host-seeking.
- - Seven different fluorescent powders were tested on female mosquitoes to check their survival rates and how effectively they could be trapped after marking.
- - Results showed that marking did not significantly impact mosquito survival but did affect their capture rates in traps, suggesting the powders might influence their sensory abilities or other physiological factors.
Objective: To estimate the timing of key events in the natural history of Zika virus infection.
Methods: In February 2016, we searched PubMed, Scopus and the Web of Science for publications containing the term . By pooling data, we estimated the incubation period, the time to seroconversion and the duration of viral shedding.
Novel data streams (NDS), such as web search data or social media updates, hold promise for enhancing the capabilities of public health surveillance. In this paper, we outline a conceptual framework for integrating NDS into current public health surveillance. Our approach focuses on two key questions: What are the opportunities for using NDS and what are the minimal tests of validity and utility that must be applied when using NDS? Identifying these opportunities will necessitate the involvement of public health authorities and an appreciation of the diversity of objectives and scales across agencies at different levels (local, state, national, international).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the influenza viruses antibody levels and contact patterns of individuals in rural and urban regions of Guangzhou and to understand how contact patterns and other factors would correlate with the levels on the titers of antibody.
Methods: "Google Map" was used to randomly select the study points from the administrative areas in Guangzhou region. Each participant was required to provide 5 ml blood serum sample to be tested against different strains of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses.