
[Music] every bone in my body had shattered I
every bone in my body had shattered I
every bone in my body had shattered I had 104 fever for days my clothes and my
had 104 fever for days my clothes and my
had 104 fever for days my clothes and my bedsheets hurt my skin which left me
bedsheets hurt my skin which left me
bedsheets hurt my skin which left me lying naked on the bed for days on end I
lying naked on the bed for days on end I
lying naked on the bed for days on end I was cold and shivering constantly but I
was cold and shivering constantly but I
was cold and shivering constantly but I couldn’t cover myself because of the
couldn’t cover myself because of the
couldn’t cover myself because of the excruciating pain these are not my words
excruciating pain these are not my words
excruciating pain these are not my words but the words of an incredible woman
but the words of an incredible woman
but the words of an incredible woman that I have known since childhood my
that I have known since childhood my
that I have known since childhood my friend Lizzie contracted dengue in 2013
friend Lizzie contracted dengue in 2013
friend Lizzie contracted dengue in 2013 and in that year she was one of about 30
and in that year she was one of about 30
and in that year she was one of about 30 cases in the state of Florida and
cases in the state of Florida and
cases in the state of Florida and unfortunately Lizzie is just one of
unfortunately Lizzie is just one of
unfortunately Lizzie is just one of hundreds of millions of cases that occur
hundreds of millions of cases that occur
hundreds of millions of cases that occur globally every year Lizzie was no match
globally every year Lizzie was no match
globally every year Lizzie was no match for what came as a result of the
for what came as a result of the
for what came as a result of the mosquito-borne illness known as
mosquito-borne illness known as
mosquito-borne illness known as breakbone fever for reference Lizzie is
breakbone fever for reference Lizzie is
breakbone fever for reference Lizzie is not very sensitive to pain she has spent
not very sensitive to pain she has spent
not very sensitive to pain she has spent her life around horses had shingles when
her life around horses had shingles when
her life around horses had shingles when she was 18 bronchitis mono broken bones
she was 18 bronchitis mono broken bones
she was 18 bronchitis mono broken bones and she also has a number of tattoos I
and she also has a number of tattoos I
and she also has a number of tattoos I would say she has a pretty high
would say she has a pretty high
would say she has a pretty high tolerance for pain the issue of mosquito
tolerance for pain the issue of mosquito
tolerance for pain the issue of mosquito vector diseases is one that has received
vector diseases is one that has received
vector diseases is one that has received increasing amounts of attention in the
increasing amounts of attention in the
increasing amounts of attention in the United States in recent years you may
United States in recent years you may
United States in recent years you may have heard of Zika but controlling the
have heard of Zika but controlling the
have heard of Zika but controlling the mosquitoes that vector Zika is not a new
mosquitoes that vector Zika is not a new
mosquitoes that vector Zika is not a new endeavor as a graduate student I started
endeavor as a graduate student I started
endeavor as a graduate student I started working on new technologies to combat
working on new technologies to combat
working on new technologies to combat these mosquitoes this is about the same
these mosquitoes this is about the same
these mosquitoes this is about the same time that my friend Lizzie contracted
time that my friend Lizzie contracted
time that my friend Lizzie contracted dengue which ignited an even greater
dengue which ignited an even greater
dengue which ignited an even greater passion for the research I was doing
passion for the research I was doing
passion for the research I was doing which started out as a simple research
which started out as a simple research
which started out as a simple research project turned into a persistent goal to
project turned into a persistent goal to
project turned into a persistent goal to control mosquitoes and prevent disease
control mosquitoes and prevent disease
control mosquitoes and prevent disease transmission the technology we were
transmission the technology we were
transmission the technology we were developing was a mosquito trap
developing was a mosquito trap
developing was a mosquito trap specifically targeted at controlling ATS
specifically targeted at controlling ATS
specifically targeted at controlling ATS a gyp died and 80s albopictus these
a gyp died and 80s albopictus these
a gyp died and 80s albopictus these mosquitoes are infamous in our world
mosquitoes are infamous in our world
mosquitoes are infamous in our world because they carry not one not two but
because they carry not one not two but
because they carry not one not two but over 20 different viruses this includes
over 20 different viruses this includes
over 20 different viruses this includes well-known examples like dengue
well-known examples like dengue
well-known examples like dengue chikungunya yellow fever and Zika they
chikungunya yellow fever and Zika they
chikungunya yellow fever and Zika they have grabbed the attention
have grabbed the attention
have grabbed the attention scientists around the world not only due
scientists around the world not only due
scientists around the world not only due to their ability to transmit but because
to their ability to transmit but because
to their ability to transmit but because of the challenge they present when it
of the challenge they present when it
of the challenge they present when it comes to control when it comes to
comes to control when it comes to
comes to control when it comes to mosquitoes all species are unique in
mosquitoes all species are unique in
mosquitoes all species are unique in some way or another whether it’s what
some way or another whether it’s what
some way or another whether it’s what they feed on when they are blood feeding
they feed on when they are blood feeding
they feed on when they are blood feeding or where they like to lay their eggs but
or where they like to lay their eggs but
or where they like to lay their eggs but it isn’t enough for ATS mosquitoes to
it isn’t enough for ATS mosquitoes to
it isn’t enough for ATS mosquitoes to feel just a little different they really
feel just a little different they really
feel just a little different they really want to stand out from the blood sucking
want to stand out from the blood sucking
want to stand out from the blood sucking crowd so they like to lay their eggs in
crowd so they like to lay their eggs in
crowd so they like to lay their eggs in small containers instead of large bodies
small containers instead of large bodies
small containers instead of large bodies of water like lakes they feed during the
of water like lakes they feed during the
of water like lakes they feed during the day instead of at night and they love
day instead of at night and they love
day instead of at night and they love love love to feed on humans as an insect
love love to feed on humans as an insect
love love to feed on humans as an insect vector biologist this presents a real
vector biologist this presents a real
vector biologist this presents a real problem ATS a gyp died and a tease
problem ATS a gyp died and a tease
problem ATS a gyp died and a tease albopictus whom we can now call
albopictus whom we can now call
albopictus whom we can now call container mosquitoes are excellent
container mosquitoes are excellent
container mosquitoes are excellent vectors of disease and the number one
vectors of disease and the number one
vectors of disease and the number one thing they are feeding on is us this
thing they are feeding on is us this
thing they are feeding on is us this creates a disastrous situation for
creates a disastrous situation for
creates a disastrous situation for disease transmission especially
disease transmission especially
disease transmission especially considering that these mosquitoes can be
considering that these mosquitoes can be
considering that these mosquitoes can be found around the world to combat this my
found around the world to combat this my
found around the world to combat this my colleagues and I believe that
colleagues and I believe that
colleagues and I believe that controlling container mosquitoes was a
controlling container mosquitoes was a
controlling container mosquitoes was a question that needed more answers our
question that needed more answers our
question that needed more answers our contribution to this growing body of
contribution to this growing body of
contribution to this growing body of research was it was a trap it took
research was it was a trap it took
research was it was a trap it took everything we knew about their behavior
everything we knew about their behavior
everything we knew about their behavior and it turned it against them the final
and it turned it against them the final
and it turned it against them the final product was a small black and red
product was a small black and red
product was a small black and red container that contained two
container that contained two
container that contained two insecticides here’s how the trap works a
insecticides here’s how the trap works a
insecticides here’s how the trap works a female mosquito flies into the trap
female mosquito flies into the trap
female mosquito flies into the trap looking for a place to lay her eggs she
looking for a place to lay her eggs she
looking for a place to lay her eggs she lands on the interior surface of the
lands on the interior surface of the
lands on the interior surface of the trap and comes into contact the lethal
trap and comes into contact the lethal
trap and comes into contact the lethal dose of pesticide if she is able to lay
dose of pesticide if she is able to lay
dose of pesticide if she is able to lay her eggs
her eggs
her eggs they are successfully killed by the
they are successfully killed by the
they are successfully killed by the insecticide mixture which is also in the
insecticide mixture which is also in the
insecticide mixture which is also in the trap when we tested this trap in the
trap when we tested this trap in the
trap when we tested this trap in the laboratory we got positive results which
laboratory we got positive results which
laboratory we got positive results which showed that we could significantly
showed that we could significantly
showed that we could significantly reduce the number of adult mosquitoes in
reduce the number of adult mosquitoes in
reduce the number of adult mosquitoes in a treated cage the next step from
a treated cage the next step from
a treated cage the next step from successful lab studies was to test the
successful lab studies was to test the
successful lab studies was to test the trap in the field it wasn’t going to
trap in the field it wasn’t going to
trap in the field it wasn’t going to help anyone if it sat in the laboratory
help anyone if it sat in the laboratory
help anyone if it sat in the laboratory forever field studies for the trap are
forever field studies for the trap are
forever field studies for the trap are ongoing but one thing has become
ongoing but one thing has become
ongoing but one thing has become abundantly clear while testing this trap
abundantly clear while testing this trap
abundantly clear while testing this trap isn’t going to work on its own
isn’t going to work on its own
isn’t going to work on its own mosquitos is kind of like an art you
mosquitos is kind of like an art you
mosquitos is kind of like an art you have to try many different control
have to try many different control
have to try many different control measures until you find the combination
measures until you find the combination
measures until you find the combination that works for that species the
that works for that species the
that works for that species the container mosquitoes not only need forms
container mosquitoes not only need forms
container mosquitoes not only need forms of active control like traps and
of active control like traps and
of active control like traps and insecticide sprays but they also require
insecticide sprays but they also require
insecticide sprays but they also require community participation controlling
community participation controlling
community participation controlling container mosquitoes is impossible
container mosquitoes is impossible
container mosquitoes is impossible without participation from the community
without participation from the community
without participation from the community the immature stage of the mosquito lives
the immature stage of the mosquito lives
the immature stage of the mosquito lives in the water and the container
in the water and the container
in the water and the container mosquitoes favorite place to develop is
mosquitoes favorite place to develop is
mosquitoes favorite place to develop is inside man-made containers this is how
inside man-made containers this is how
inside man-made containers this is how they made it into the u.s. in the first
they made it into the u.s. in the first
they made it into the u.s. in the first place the hitchhiked and products like
place the hitchhiked and products like
place the hitchhiked and products like tires they’ve adapted to develop in just
tires they’ve adapted to develop in just
tires they’ve adapted to develop in just about any type of container you can
about any type of container you can
about any type of container you can think of that includes bird baths your
think of that includes bird baths your
think of that includes bird baths your dog’s water bowl the cooler that’s still
dog’s water bowl the cooler that’s still
dog’s water bowl the cooler that’s still sitting in your backyard from the last
sitting in your backyard from the last
sitting in your backyard from the last barbecue they could all be developing
barbecue they could all be developing
barbecue they could all be developing mosquitoes and this is not only a
mosquitoes and this is not only a
mosquitoes and this is not only a problem for the United States these
problem for the United States these
problem for the United States these mosquitoes are found globally which
mosquitoes are found globally which
mosquitoes are found globally which means that’s all that is required to
means that’s all that is required to
means that’s all that is required to vector disease is an infected mosquito
vector disease is an infected mosquito
vector disease is an infected mosquito that infected mosquito feeds on a
that infected mosquito feeds on a
that infected mosquito feeds on a healthy human causing illness and that’s
healthy human causing illness and that’s
healthy human causing illness and that’s exactly what we need to prevent for this
exactly what we need to prevent for this
exactly what we need to prevent for this I need you to pay close attention and if
I need you to pay close attention and if
I need you to pay close attention and if you remember nothing else from me please
you remember nothing else from me please
you remember nothing else from me please remember this mosquito prevention has to
remember this mosquito prevention has to
remember this mosquito prevention has to start with each individual in this room
start with each individual in this room
start with each individual in this room if every person here today were to go
if every person here today were to go
if every person here today were to go around their home once a week and dump
around their home once a week and dump
around their home once a week and dump out any containers holding water it
out any containers holding water it
out any containers holding water it would make future control efforts more
would make future control efforts more
would make future control efforts more effective less standing water leads to
effective less standing water leads to
effective less standing water leads to less mosquito development which means
less mosquito development which means
less mosquito development which means fewer adult mosquitoes to control
fewer adult mosquitoes to control
fewer adult mosquitoes to control through the use of traps and insecticide
through the use of traps and insecticide
through the use of traps and insecticide sprays however just as some mosquitoes
sprays however just as some mosquitoes
sprays however just as some mosquitoes are resistant to insecticides some
are resistant to insecticides some
are resistant to insecticides some people are resistant to mosquito
people are resistant to mosquito
people are resistant to mosquito prevention and control the research that
prevention and control the research that
prevention and control the research that led to all the knowledge and tools to
led to all the knowledge and tools to
led to all the knowledge and tools to help combat these mosquitoes is there
help combat these mosquitoes is there
help combat these mosquitoes is there our next job is getting people to use
our next job is getting people to use
our next job is getting people to use that information and that’s where I need
that information and that’s where I need
that information and that’s where I need your help you have to show people just
your help you have to show people just
your help you have to show people just how simple it is to prevent mosquito
how simple it is to prevent mosquito
how simple it is to prevent mosquito development by just
development by just
development by just turning of trash that holds water and
turning of trash that holds water and
turning of trash that holds water and dumping out containers around the home
dumping out containers around the home
dumping out containers around the home we need to convince our community of the
we need to convince our community of the
we need to convince our community of the importance of eliminating standing water
importance of eliminating standing water
importance of eliminating standing water sources
sources
sources mosquitoes transmit disease plain and
mosquitoes transmit disease plain and
mosquitoes transmit disease plain and simple if an infected mosquito bites you
simple if an infected mosquito bites you
simple if an infected mosquito bites you they could do major damage to your body
they could do major damage to your body
they could do major damage to your body I think it’s difficult for us to
I think it’s difficult for us to
I think it’s difficult for us to understand the severity of this but
understand the severity of this but
understand the severity of this but listen to these words from Lizzy while I
listen to these words from Lizzy while I
listen to these words from Lizzy while I was sitting in the waiting room waiting
was sitting in the waiting room waiting
was sitting in the waiting room waiting to see the sixth doctor I felt like I
to see the sixth doctor I felt like I
to see the sixth doctor I felt like I needed to call my mom to talk about my
needed to call my mom to talk about my
needed to call my mom to talk about my will I thought I was going to die
will I thought I was going to die
will I thought I was going to die so there I was waiting to be called back
so there I was waiting to be called back
so there I was waiting to be called back talking to my mom about what would
talking to my mom about what would
talking to my mom about what would happen to all my stuff if I didn’t make
happen to all my stuff if I didn’t make
happen to all my stuff if I didn’t make it through this
it through this
it through this Lizzy didn’t know what was wrong with
Lizzy didn’t know what was wrong with
Lizzy didn’t know what was wrong with her and neither did doctors and that’s
her and neither did doctors and that’s
her and neither did doctors and that’s the last thing that we want for our
the last thing that we want for our
the last thing that we want for our loved ones and even with an outcome this
loved ones and even with an outcome this
loved ones and even with an outcome this severe we still can’t seem to figure out
severe we still can’t seem to figure out
severe we still can’t seem to figure out the best way to get our message out to
the best way to get our message out to
the best way to get our message out to our audience so now the problem isn’t
our audience so now the problem isn’t
our audience so now the problem isn’t how do we get these mosquitoes under
how do we get these mosquitoes under
how do we get these mosquitoes under control it’s how do we get people to
control it’s how do we get people to
control it’s how do we get people to help themselves
help themselves
help themselves now we have to overcome communication as
now we have to overcome communication as
now we have to overcome communication as a barrier to success communication of
a barrier to success communication of
a barrier to success communication of our research findings can be really
our research findings can be really
our research findings can be really difficult for some scientists and it can
difficult for some scientists and it can
difficult for some scientists and it can prevent our message from reaching the
prevent our message from reaching the
prevent our message from reaching the public to combat this breakdown in
public to combat this breakdown in
public to combat this breakdown in communication we’re constantly trying to
communication we’re constantly trying to
communication we’re constantly trying to find new ways to more effectively get
find new ways to more effectively get
find new ways to more effectively get our message out to the community one of
our message out to the community one of
our message out to the community one of the projects we are working on involves
the projects we are working on involves
the projects we are working on involves taking an established member of a small
taking an established member of a small
taking an established member of a small underserved community not a professor or
underserved community not a professor or
underserved community not a professor or a government official and having them go
a government official and having them go
a government official and having them go door to door to talk to their neighbor
door to door to talk to their neighbor
door to door to talk to their neighbor about the importance of mosquitoes in
about the importance of mosquitoes in
about the importance of mosquitoes in the area and how they can help our hope
the area and how they can help our hope
the area and how they can help our hope is that hearing the message from someone
is that hearing the message from someone
is that hearing the message from someone they know and trust will inspire action
they know and trust will inspire action
they know and trust will inspire action we’re also developing programs for
we’re also developing programs for
we’re also developing programs for school-aged children that involve search
school-aged children that involve search
school-aged children that involve search and find activities for water-holding
and find activities for water-holding
and find activities for water-holding containers around the home the hardest
containers around the home the hardest
containers around the home the hardest part is keeping people engaged in warmer
part is keeping people engaged in warmer
part is keeping people engaged in warmer climates like Florida mosquito
climates like Florida mosquito
climates like Florida mosquito prevention has to be done year-round it
prevention has to be done year-round it
prevention has to be done year-round it is difficult getting the community info
is difficult getting the community info
is difficult getting the community info but it is a crucial part in the fight
but it is a crucial part in the fight
but it is a crucial part in the fight against mosquitoes when working on my
against mosquitoes when working on my
against mosquitoes when working on my research project I find myself thinking
research project I find myself thinking
research project I find myself thinking about Lizzy in her experience a lot it
about Lizzy in her experience a lot it
about Lizzy in her experience a lot it provides a continuous source of
provides a continuous source of
provides a continuous source of motivation for the work that I do
motivation for the work that I do
motivation for the work that I do fortunately she made it through this
fortunately she made it through this
fortunately she made it through this mosquito-borne illness but not everyone
mosquito-borne illness but not everyone
mosquito-borne illness but not everyone does what if what happened to her
does what if what happened to her
does what if what happened to her happened to you or a friend a sibling a
happened to you or a friend a sibling a
happened to you or a friend a sibling a neighbor before this presentation you
neighbor before this presentation you
neighbor before this presentation you would have said that you were helpless
would have said that you were helpless
would have said that you were helpless and that you didn’t know how to help but
and that you didn’t know how to help but
and that you didn’t know how to help but now you do you know exactly what you can
now you do you know exactly what you can
now you do you know exactly what you can do to prevent what happened to Lizzie
do to prevent what happened to Lizzie
do to prevent what happened to Lizzie from happening to you or your loved ones
from happening to you or your loved ones
from happening to you or your loved ones you have the knowledge you need to wage
you have the knowledge you need to wage
you have the knowledge you need to wage your own war on mosquitoes and I fully
your own war on mosquitoes and I fully
your own war on mosquitoes and I fully expect you to do that I’ve decided to
expect you to do that I’ve decided to
expect you to do that I’ve decided to dedicate my life to vector research and
dedicate my life to vector research and
dedicate my life to vector research and public health interventions I know that
public health interventions I know that
public health interventions I know that not everyone in the room will follow me
not everyone in the room will follow me
not everyone in the room will follow me on that path but if you decide to be a
on that path but if you decide to be a
on that path but if you decide to be a part of the solution I believe that we
part of the solution I believe that we
part of the solution I believe that we could have a dramatic impact on these
could have a dramatic impact on these
could have a dramatic impact on these mosquitoes and their ability to transmit
mosquitoes and their ability to transmit
mosquitoes and their ability to transmit disease thank you
”
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