Potentially fatal mosquito-borne West Nile fever (WNF) can become much more widespread in Europe than previously thought, say scientists in a new report just out in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology(1). The disease in temperate climates is carried by a population of Culex pipiens mosquitoes that only bites birds - the disease reservoir host - but Bruno Gomes and colleagues from the Centre for Malaria and Tropical diseases and Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in Portugal found high numbers of hybrids between this population and another one that bites on humans. These hybrids, by feeding on both humans and birds, can act as a bridge transmitting the disease to humans.

A devastating drought, possibly the worst of the last century, is sweeping through Kenya-- killing children, spreading malnutrition, crippling economies and resulting in the death of livestock and wildlife reserve. Rewind 30 years. Reports on the worst famine in West Africa—Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Sudan— during the 1970’s and early 1980’s made  headlines across the world.

DAVIS, California, December 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Are you at risk from a large, damaging earthquake? A new online tool developed by OpenHazards Group, Inc., http://www.openhazards.com, quickly estimates the chances of a future earthquake and how much property damage it will do in any time period, anywhere in the world.

OpenHazards is the creator of the first free, public earthquake hazard tool that offers vital information about earthquake hazards worldwide. The online Hazard Viewer shows earthquake forecasts and predicts how often and how much shaking might happen at any location. The Home Response tool shows likely damage to different types of buildings.