Monday, 28 April 2014

Peoria Ag Lab works to control world's deadliest animal

By Steve Tarter of the Journal Star 
Posted Apr. 26, 2014 @ 10:35 pm 

Mosquitoes kill 1 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization, making it the deadliest animal in the world.

A Peoria scientist at the Ag Lab is at the forefront of a war against this killer.

Scientist Alejandro Rooney is engaged in new research efforts to battle dangerous mosquito varieties such as the Asian Tiger, yellow fever and floodwater species at the Peoria Ag Lab.

“Mosquitoes carry some nasty diseases — like dengue fever, chikungunya and West Nile Virus,” said Rooney, the research leader of the crop bioprotection unit at the U.S. Department of Agriculture lab at 1815 N. University St.

“There’s also the treehole mosquito that can spread encephalitis,” he said, adding that mosquitoes also pose a threat to livestock.

It’s enough to call off summer and pray for the return of the Polar Vortex.

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