mosquitoes

Scientists are watching mosquito breeding levels after a record hot summer amid concern more tropical heat could mean more illness.

There have been 10 cases in South Florida this year. Eight in Miami-Dade and two in Broward.

After a rough five days in the hospital, Hannah Heath says she's working to protect her family from mosquito-borne diseases. She encourages others to follow guidance from health officials.

Scientists have used a gene-editing technique to make mosquitos allies in the fight against malaria. Environmentalists are troubled by the idea of genetically modifying wild animals.

In addition, the year's third case of dengue was confirmed in Miami-Dade. Sarasota, Manatee and Miami-Dade counties are under a mosquito-borne illness alert.

Hillsborough County has seen four travel-related malaria cases this year, but none acquired locally. Still, things are busy for employees working to prevent mosquito-borne diseases this rainy season.

Polk County is working to make sure the odds of malaria spreading northward from Sarasota are as low as possible.

Six people in the county have contracted the disease in recent weeks from mosquitoes in the area, officials say. The state remains under a mosquito-borne illness alert.

These illnesses are among the recent health care headlines. Our panel of guests takes a closer look at them and other topics in the news.

The health department says individuals who contracted the disease were bitten in the Sarasota area. This is unusual because a vast majority of U.S. cases are detected after someone travels internationally.