Vector-borne diseases shaped human history and reveal race disparities
In December 2015, a yellow fever outbreak began in Luanda, Angola. This outbreak was the largest reported in Angola during the last 30-years. In a new study, researchers examine the ways in which vector-borne diseases, like yellow fever, have shaped society and culture.
Image: Rebecca Hall, CDC
Vector-borne diseases shaped human history and reveal race disparities
February 02, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Vector-borne diseases (VBDs), such as plague, malaria and yellow fever, have significantly shaped society and culture, according to an international team of researchers. In a study published in Ecology Letters on Jan. 27, the team used historical evidence interpreted through an ecological lens to illustrate how VBDs have influenced human history, with particular attention to how VBDs have reinforced and exacerbated racism.
Updated 2/17/21, 12:08 p.m.
The Honolulu City Council is considering two measures that address abandoned boats and trailers on city streets today. The measures aim to address safety concerns in communities, while also clarifying jurisdictions and procedures for their removal.
Bill 97 (2020) would amend the city s current policies on removing abandoned vehicles to include trailers. A similar resolution urges the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees boat registration, to partner with the City in addressing abandoned vessels.
Councilmember Brandon Elefante introduced the measures, because of the proliferation of abandoned boats and trailers in his district. There s been some cases where we ve been successfully able to remove an abandoned trailer and boat, because we ve been able to find the owner, Elefante said.
• 5 hours ago
Front corner view of Honolulu Hale, the City Hall of Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Honolulu City Council is considering two measures that address abandoned boats and trailers on city streets today. The measures aim to address safety concerns in communities, while also clarifying jurisdictions and procedures for their removal.
Bill 97 (2020) would amend the city s current policies on removing abandoned vehicles to include trailers. A similar resolution urges the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees boat registration, to partner with the City in addressing abandoned vessels.
Councilmember Brandon Elefante introduced the measures, because of the proliferation of abandoned boats and trailers in his district.
For The Maui News
Jackson’s chameleons were eradicated from Kauai in 2013, thanks to an alert resident. Photo courtesy Forest and Kim Starr
In the late 1990s, a Maui-based ecologist and scientist working with the U.S. Geological Survey envisioned a simple, straightforward way for the public to report invasive pests. The late Lloyd Loope was acutely aware of how important it was to have widespread community participation in detecting invasive species. He sought funding to develop an online system to help the public easily report invasive species. The benefit would be two-fold: promoting awareness of harmful plants and animals pests in Hawaii, and stopping high-priority pests from becoming established.