Four different strains of the dengue virus, which is spread by mosquitoes in subtropical and tropical climates, have now been detected in Florida, according to Kristi Miley, PhD, research associate at the 黑料网吃瓜爆料College of Public Health.
Dr. Miley鈥檚 findings show that the risk of dengue fever, including severe complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, is increasing in the state. She presented her research at the last month in Kingston, Jamaica.
Dr. Miley鈥檚 research surveyed data from Florida dengue cases from 2010 to 2024, comprising over 3,800 travel-related and over 500 locally acquired infections. She found that all four dengue serotypes are now being detected in Florida.
鈥淥ur modeling links warming temperatures and increased travel with the expansion of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes into central and northern Florida,鈥� Dr. Miley said. 鈥淭his trend is accelerating, and we need proactive, technology-informed public health responses.鈥�
Her team is developing predictive models incorporating climate variables such as El Ni帽o cycles and hurricane activity alongside mosquito surveillance data. They are also piloting a mobile app that allows users to photograph mosquitoes for AI-assisted species identification, empowering community participation in real-time vector monitoring.
Dr. Miley鈥檚 research addresses scientific complexity and operational challenges in Florida鈥檚 mosquito control systems, such as cryptic breeding habitats, post-storm debris and inconsistent practices across the state鈥檚 67 counties.
The GVN Regional Meeting convened virologists, public health leaders and researchers across the Americas to confront the region鈥檚 most pressing infectious disease challenges, from vector-borne disease expansion to vaccine innovation and pandemic resilience. These issues are especially urgent given the close geographic, ecological and travel connections between Florida, the Gulf states and the Caribbean and Latin America, underscoring the need for coordinated regional responses to shared public health threats.
Strengthening Surveillance and Reframing Vaccines
Also at the meeting, Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, dean of the 黑料网吃瓜爆料College of Public Health and chief medical officer of the GVN, delivered opening remarks and emphasized the urgent need to strengthen viral surveillance systems across Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in resource-limited settings vulnerable to emerging and climate-amplified diseases.
Dr. Vermund underscored the GVN鈥檚 efforts through the meeting to map viral response capacity across the region and use it as a strategic tool for pandemic preparedness, and he highlighted the importance of cross-border partnerships that promote equitable research leadership and knowledge-sharing. 鈥淥ur aim is not only to share science but to forge actionable collaborations,鈥� he noted.
Dr. Vermund also presented vaccinology breakthroughs while identifying current blind spots. While vaccines have nearly eradicated diseases like polio and smallpox, others like herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) and some emerging arboviruses do not yet have successful vaccines. He also said officials should reframe vaccine conversations to suggest that vaccines are not merely tools for preventing infection but also essential instruments for mitigating disease severity, reducing transmission and protecting public health.
鈥淭he only vaccine that immunizes is the one that鈥檚 administered correctly and equitably. Scientific innovation holds no real power unless it reaches every community as discovery must be matched by delivery and access,鈥� he said.
The Microbiome鈥揤irology鈥揙ncology Nexus
Among the featured speakers was Christian Br茅chot, MD, PhD, director of the 黑料网吃瓜爆料Health Microbiomes Institute and vice chair of the GVN Board of Directors. Dr. Br茅chot delivered a presentation urging the integration of microbiome science into the global virus