1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools. “The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_47763" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47763" style="width: 492px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class=" wp-image-47763" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon_At-the-FLREC-termite-lab-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="492" height="369" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47763" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon at the FLREC termite lab.</figcaption></figure>
Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools.
“The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” said <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6AyZ6D4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra">Johnalyn Gordon</a>, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center</a>.
Gordon, who specializes in urban pests, is also an instructor at Pest Management University, a cooperative training program between the pest management industry, UF IFAS, and the Florida Department of Agricultural Consumer Sciences. She emphasizes that while storm damage is a primary concern, understanding how to manage pest-related issues can prevent headaches and potential infestations later.
Here are Gordon’s go-to insights on what to look out for and how to manage pests after a storm:
Rainfall can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes
Several species of mosquitoes in Florida will breed in small containers of standing water. This includes the mosquito species that are vectors for the pathogens that cause dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. They don’t need much water, so these can include spare tires, plant pots and saucers, bird baths and garbage cans.
Tip: Before the storm, survey your property for anything that might collect rain, and dump water out following rain from potential sources can interrupt mosquitoes’  life cycle and prevent them from using those containers to breed.
 
<figure id="attachment_47765" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47765" style="width: 263px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-47765 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="263" height="351" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon-holding-bed-bug-specimens-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47765" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon at University of Kentucky where she worked on bed bug research as a graduate research assistant.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_47783" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47783" style="width: 419px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-47783" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon_roach-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="419" height="279" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47783" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon demonstrates a Madagascar hissing cockroach.</figcaption></figure>
Flooding promotes pests on the move
Heavy rains create flooding, signaling insects and vertebrate pests to seek higher and drier grounds. Precipitation drives pests like cockroaches, spiders, and rodents indoors in search of a safe space. Floods also cause red imported fire ants to form floating “rafts,” which can pose a painful hazard for anyone cleaning up after the storm.
The red imported fire ant is a prominent pest ant in Florida, most recognizable for its nasty sting, but takes a unique approach to dealing with flooding. These ants, which live in colonies of tens of thousands of individuals, nest in the ground, and when flooding occurs, will form “rafts” by interlocking their bodies and floating on the surface of the water until they find higher ground. People can encounter these fire ant rafts when cleaning up flooded areas or when rafts come in contact with a structure.
Vertebrate pests like rodents and wildlife can also be displaced by flooding, which can make them more likely to enter a structure.
Tip: Ensure doors, windows and any storm-damaged areas are well sealed to block pests from entering your home or business. Be cautious when dealing with fire ant rafts in flooded areas. After the storm passes, cover any potential entry points caused by damage to prevent pests from coming inside and infesting a structure.
 
Don’t maintain moisture
Flooding can also lead to moisture problems in a structure, which can lead to pest problems later down the road, Gordon said.
In many cases, moisture and pests go hand in hand. One of the primary examples of this is subterranean termites, which will readily target and feed on water-damaged wood.
Being aware of potential moisture issues following storms and prioritizing moisture control in the structure is critical to help prevent subterranean termite infestations. If termites are discovered, the best course of action would be to reach out to a professional pest control company as soon as possible.
 
<figure id="attachment_47771" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47771" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-47771" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon_at-micoscope-analyzing-termite-specimens-260x300.jpeg" alt="" width="310" height="358" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47771" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon at a microscope analyzing and identifying termite specimens.</figcaption></figure>
Trash buildup can be a fly magnet
In the aftermath of a storm, accumulations of garbage due to service impacts in waste management and often large amounts of spoiled food due to power outages can attract several different fly species, including house flies, phorid flies, and fruit flies, which will readily feed on refuse and decaying material.
Tip: To prevent a buildup of flies, place organic waste such as spoiled food in a bag and secure tightly. Then, place in a trash topped with a tightly fitting lid until trash can be disposed of or picked up.
 
Prevention is the key
When it comes to dealing with pest issues following a major storm or hurricane, prevention as well as quick action following the storm can go a long way to preventing or reducing associated pest problems.
“It’s important that great care is taken if pesticides are applied and that all label directions are followed, particularly as they relate to applications near water or to rain-soaked areas,” said Gordon.
###
&nbsp;
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2024/09/25/experta-de-uf-ifas-ofrece-consejos-para-el-control-de-plagas-durante-la-temporada-de-huracanes/">Para accesar a este contenido en español, por favor utilice este enlace.</a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

Johnalyn Gordon at the FLREC termite lab.
Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools.
“The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” said Johnalyn Gordon, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
Gordon, who specializes in urban pests, is also an instructor at Pest Management University, a cooperative training program between the pest management industry, UF IFAS, and the Florida Department of Agricultural Consumer Sciences. She emphasizes that while storm damage is a primary concern, understanding how to manage pest-related issues can prevent headaches and potential infestations later.
Here are Gordon’s go-to insights on what to look out for and how to manage pests after a storm:
Rainfall can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes
Several species of mosquitoes in Florida will breed in small containers of standing water. This includes the mosquito species that are vectors for the pathogens that cause dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. They don’t need much water, so these can include spare tires, plant pots and saucers, bird baths and garbage cans.
Tip: Before the storm, survey your property for anything that might collect rain, and dump water out following rain from potential sources can interrupt mosquitoes’  life cycle and prevent them from using those containers to breed.
 
Johnalyn Gordon at University of Kentucky where she worked on bed bug research as a graduate research assistant.
Johnalyn Gordon demonstrates a Madagascar hissing cockroach.
Flooding promotes pests on the move
Heavy rains create flooding, signaling insects and vertebrate pests to seek higher and drier grounds. Precipitation drives pests like cockroaches, spiders, and rodents indoors in search of a safe space. Floods also cause red imported fire ants to form floating “rafts,” which can pose a painful hazard for anyone cleaning up after the storm.
The red imported fire ant is a prominent pest ant in Florida, most recognizable for its nasty sting, but takes a unique approach to dealing with flooding. These ants, which live in colonies of tens of thousands of individuals, nest in the ground, and when flooding occurs, will form “rafts” by interlocking their bodies and floating on the surface of the water until they find higher ground. People can encounter these fire ant rafts when cleaning up flooded areas or when rafts come in contact with a structure.
Vertebrate pests like rodents and wildlife can also be displaced by flooding, which can make them more likely to enter a structure.
Tip: Ensure doors, windows and any storm-damaged areas are well sealed to block pests from entering your home or business. Be cautious when dealing with fire ant rafts in flooded areas. After the storm passes, cover any potential entry points caused by damage to prevent pests from coming inside and infesting a structure.
 
Don’t maintain moisture
Flooding can also lead to moisture problems in a structure, which can lead to pest problems later down the road, Gordon said.
In many cases, moisture and pests go hand in hand. One of the primary examples of this is subterranean termites, which will readily target and feed on water-damaged wood.
Being aware of potential moisture issues following storms and prioritizing moisture control in the structure is critical to help prevent subterranean termite infestations. If termites are discovered, the best course of action would be to reach out to a professional pest control company as soon as possible.
 
Johnalyn Gordon at a microscope analyzing and identifying termite specimens.
Trash buildup can be a fly magnet
In the aftermath of a storm, accumulations of garbage due to service impacts in waste management and often large amounts of spoiled food due to power outages can attract several different fly species, including house flies, phorid flies, and fruit flies, which will readily feed on refuse and decaying material.
Tip: To prevent a buildup of flies, place organic waste such as spoiled food in a bag and secure tightly. Then, place in a trash topped with a tightly fitting lid until trash can be disposed of or picked up.
 
Prevention is the key
When it comes to dealing with pest issues following a major storm or hurricane, prevention as well as quick action following the storm can go a long way to preventing or reducing associated pest problems.
“It’s important that great care is taken if pesticides are applied and that all label directions are followed, particularly as they relate to applications near water or to rain-soaked areas,” said Gordon.
###
 
Para accesar a este contenido en español, por favor utilice este enlace.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools. “The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” […]

UF/IFAS expert shares pest control tips for hurricane season

Ever-present but undetectable to the naked eye, micro-predators are constantly working in the soil to hunt and kill the pathogens that threaten plants. But how they do this “dirty” work is not well understood. The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $3.5 million to a UF/IFAS scientist and his team to [&#8230;]

Ever-present but undetectable to the naked eye, micro-predators are constantly working in the soil to hunt and kill the pathogens that threaten plants. But how they do this “dirty” work is not well understood. 
The <a href="https://www.nifa.usda.gov/">USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)</a> has awarded $3.5 million to a UF/IFAS scientist and his team to study micro-predators, a group of organisms that includes nematodes, protists, some viruses and some bacteria. The team will share their research findings to promote crop productivity and sustainable soil-health management.
<a href="https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty-pages/samuel-martins/">Samuel Martins</a>, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of plant pathology, is leading eight researchers from six institutions: the University of Florida; Pennsylvania State University; the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; the University of California, Davis; William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey; and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
<figure id="attachment_47407" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47407" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/20240906-017-martins-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-47407 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Samuel Martins" width="300" height="226" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/20240906-017-martins-300x226.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47407" class="wp-caption-text">Samuel Martins</figcaption></figure>
The team will collect soil before and after harvest at 12 organic tomato farms in California, Connecticut, Florida and Pennsylvania. After extracting DNA from samples, they will conduct computational analyses to identify the soil’s microbial and viral composition and determine associations between predators and prey.
The researchers propose to test the effects of various organic amendments like worm casings and chicken manure on micro-predators and pathogens. They want to learn whether micro-predator predation can be enhanced in the soil with amendments to better protect plants.
“Our long-term goal is to investigate the impact of different organic matter amendments on micro-predator diversity, pathogen survival and soil and plant health,” Martins said.
The researchers will eventually share their findings with growers through webinars and conferences and with university students through new curricula.
They selected the research project based on grower needs; a planning grant funded trips to grower association workshops around the country, as well as surveys they conducted to learn which functions of soil are important to growers. The results, based on the responses of 99 growers, indicate 89% consider building organic matter important, and 82% consider pathogen suppression important.
The growers “appreciated the cutting-edge data and refreshing honesty about the state of knowledge of soil microbiomes (despite decades of sequence surveys, we still cannot confidently tell a grower how to use soil microbiome data to inform management decisions),” the researchers wrote in their proposal.
Members of a panel that evaluated the team’s NIFA proposal praised Martins’ team for engaging stakeholders to develop their research project. They also confirmed statements made within the proposal indicating a lack of similar research in the United States.
“The panel was enthusiastic about this proposal and agreed that the team&#8217;s proposed research ideas are novel and will significantly add to the scientific community&#8217;s knowledge base on micro-predators in soil and their impact on disease suppression in soils,” according to a summary of the panel’s findings.
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

Ever-present but undetectable to the naked eye, micro-predators are constantly working in the soil to hunt and kill the pathogens that threaten plants. But how they do this “dirty” work is not well understood. 
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $3.5 million to a UF/IFAS scientist and his team to study micro-predators, a group of organisms that includes nematodes, protists, some viruses and some bacteria. The team will share their research findings to promote crop productivity and sustainable soil-health management.
Samuel Martins, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of plant pathology, is leading eight researchers from six institutions: the University of Florida; Pennsylvania State University; the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; the University of California, Davis; William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey; and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Samuel Martins
The team will collect soil before and after harvest at 12 organic tomato farms in California, Connecticut, Florida and Pennsylvania. After extracting DNA from samples, they will conduct computational analyses to identify the soil’s microbial and viral composition and determine associations between predators and prey.
The researchers propose to test the effects of various organic amendments like worm casings and chicken manure on micro-predators and pathogens. They want to learn whether micro-predator predation can be enhanced in the soil with amendments to better protect plants.
“Our long-term goal is to investigate the impact of different organic matter amendments on micro-predator diversity, pathogen survival and soil and plant health,” Martins said.
The researchers will eventually share their findings with growers through webinars and conferences and with university students through new curricula.
They selected the research project based on grower needs; a planning grant funded trips to grower association workshops around the country, as well as surveys they conducted to learn which functions of soil are important to growers. The results, based on the responses of 99 growers, indicate 89% consider building organic matter important, and 82% consider pathogen suppression important.
The growers “appreciated the cutting-edge data and refreshing honesty about the state of knowledge of soil microbiomes (despite decades of sequence surveys, we still cannot confidently tell a grower how to use soil microbiome data to inform management decisions),” the researchers wrote in their proposal.
Members of a panel that evaluated the team’s NIFA proposal praised Martins’ team for engaging stakeholders to develop their research project. They also confirmed statements made within the proposal indicating a lack of similar research in the United States.
“The panel was enthusiastic about this proposal and agreed that the team’s proposed research ideas are novel and will significantly add to the scientific community’s knowledge base on micro-predators in soil and their impact on disease suppression in soils,” according to a summary of the panel’s findings.
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

Ever-present but undetectable to the naked eye, micro-predators are constantly working in the soil to hunt and kill the pathogens that threaten plants. But how they do this “dirty” work is not well understood. The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $3.5 million to a UF/IFAS scientist and his team to […]

UF/IFAS scientist secures $3.5M grant to study soil micro-predators

Silver Lining One of the silver linings of COVID pandemic for me as a food safety instructor has been the increased focus on handwashing and sanitizing surfaces. I am especially thrilled about increased handwashing since the correlation between health and handwashing is not visible. I am concerned that once folks get the vaccine, they will [&#8230;]

<h6>Silver Lining</h6>
One of the silver linings of COVID pandemic for me as a food safety instructor has been the increased focus on handwashing and sanitizing surfaces. I am especially thrilled about increased handwashing since the correlation between health and handwashing is not visible. I am concerned that once folks get the vaccine, they will let up on some of these important food safety practices. We have learned that soap and water is highly effective in removing influenza virus and inactivating coronaviruses that are transmitted via human hands. Hand hygiene has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of health care-associated infections. What we may not realize is that handwashing is also effective in preventing foodborne viruses on hands as well. Over the years, viruses (vs. bacteria) have emerged as the number one cause of foodborne illness, the goal is always the same: Prevention.
<h6>Viral Outbreaks</h6>
Although there have been certain foods associated with viral outbreaks, almost any food item can be involved, if it has been handled by an infected person. Viruses do not multiply or produce toxin in foods. Foods merely act as vehicles to transfer it. This can happen anywhere along the flow food(production, processing, distribution or preparation-sometimes referred to as field to fork). Viruses can be transmitted to food handled by infected restaurant workers. Interestingly , most documented foodborne viral outbreak can be traced to food that has been manually handled by an infected food handler, rather than to industrially processed food. Outbreaks frequently involve cold foods that require a lot of handling during preparation and thus, more potential for contamination. If viruses are present in foods after processing, they typically remain infectious in most foods for several days or weeks, especially if kept cooled (at 39°degrees F).
<h6>Viral Infections</h6>
For the control of foodborne viral infections, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of handwashing and how viruses spread by people handling food in a foodservice establishment or at home. Strict emphasis should be focused on personal hygiene during preparation. Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent food poisoning. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and running water. Scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
<h6>Reporting of Foodborne Illness </h6>
It is amazing to realize that only a small fraction of foodborne disease cases get reported when we consider that in the U.S. there were 9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness, and 55, 961 hospitalizations and 1,351 deaths. For centuries, hand hygiene. With the renewed attention to handwashing during COVID, we should have gotten into good habits of handwashing and sanitizing surfaces.
Now, how do we keep handwashing at the forefront of our mind?
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2465 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="229" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/suwanneeco/files/2021/03/Washing-your-hands-300x229.jpg">

Silver Lining
One of the silver linings of COVID pandemic for me as a food safety instructor has been the increased focus on handwashing and sanitizing surfaces. I am especially thrilled about increased handwashing since the correlation between health and handwashing is not visible. I am concerned that once folks get the vaccine, they will let up on some of these important food safety practices. We have learned that soap and water is highly effective in removing influenza virus and inactivating coronaviruses that are transmitted via human hands. Hand hygiene has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of health care-associated infections. What we may not realize is that handwashing is also effective in preventing foodborne viruses on hands as well. Over the years, viruses (vs. bacteria) have emerged as the number one cause of foodborne illness, the goal is always the same: Prevention.
Viral Outbreaks
Although there have been certain foods associated with viral outbreaks, almost any food item can be involved, if it has been handled by an infected person. Viruses do not multiply or produce toxin in foods. Foods merely act as vehicles to transfer it. This can happen anywhere along the flow food(production, processing, distribution or preparation-sometimes referred to as field to fork). Viruses can be transmitted to food handled by infected restaurant workers. Interestingly , most documented foodborne viral outbreak can be traced to food that has been manually handled by an infected food handler, rather than to industrially processed food. Outbreaks frequently involve cold foods that require a lot of handling during preparation and thus, more potential for contamination. If viruses are present in foods after processing, they typically remain infectious in most foods for several days or weeks, especially if kept cooled                       (at 39°degrees F).
Viral Infections
For the control of foodborne viral infections, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of handwashing and how viruses spread by people handling food in a foodservice establishment or at home. Strict emphasis should be focused on personal hygiene during preparation. Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent food poisoning. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and running water. Scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Reporting of Foodborne Illness 
It is amazing to realize that only a small fraction of foodborne disease cases get reported when we consider that in the U.S. there were 9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness, and 55, 961 hospitalizations and 1,351 deaths. For centuries, hand hygiene. With the renewed attention to handwashing during COVID, we should have gotten into good habits of handwashing and sanitizing surfaces.
Now, how do we keep handwashing at the forefront of our mind?

Silver Lining One of the silver linings of COVID pandemic for me as a food safety instructor has been the increased focus on handwashing and sanitizing surfaces. I am especially thrilled about increased handwashing since the correlation between health and handwashing is not visible. I am concerned that once folks get the vaccine, they will […]

COVID has Improved Food Safety

Pathogens

Patógenos 

Microscopic infectious agent that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria, consisting of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, housed inside a capsid.

Viruses

COVID-19, a highly infectitious respiratory disease in humans, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus probably emerged from an animal source in Wuhan (China) and spreaded globaly from person to person. Most people infected with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of cough, fever, and shortness of breath. In some cases, patients had pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure, and even death. The World Health Organization (WHO), on March 11, 2020, declared the novel COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. [NALT]

COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

COVID-19 (Haitian Creole)

COVID-19 (Mandarin Chinese)

COVID-19 (Nuevo Coronavirus)

St. Louis Encephalitis virus

Encefalitis de San Luis

The Tospovirus (family Bunyaviridae) genus of viruses causes diseases of significant economic impact in many crops worldwide. Tospoviruses have the ability to swap whole segments of their genome with other members of the genus, creating new virus isolates with different vectors and modified host ranges, both of which can result in new diseases. Presently, there are eight recognized species belonging to this genus, of which five have been previously reported in the United States (i.e., TCSV, TSWV, GRSV, INSV, and Iris yellow spot virus [IYSV]). Of these, all but IYSV have been previously reported in the state of Florida. More information about tospoviruses can be found in Tospoviruses (Family Bunyaviridae, Genus Tospovirus) (<a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp134">http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp134</a>). -- from PP306, Tomato Chlorotic Spot Virus

&nbsp;
El g&eacute;nero de virus Tospovirus (familia Bunyaviridae) causa enfermedades de impacto econ&oacute;mico significativo en muchos cultivos en todo el mundo. Los tospovirus tienen la capacidad de intercambiar segmentos completos de su genoma con otros miembros del g&eacute;nero, creando nuevos virus aislados con diferentes vectores y rangos de hu&eacute;spedes modificados, los cuales pueden dar lugar a nuevas enfermedades. En la actualidad, hay ocho especies reconocidas que pertenecen a este g&eacute;nero, de las cuales cinco se han informado previamente en los Estados Unidos (es decir, TCSV, TSWV, GRSV, INSV y el virus de la mancha amarilla del iris [IYSV]). De estos, todos excepto IYSV han sido reportados previamente en el estado de Florida. Se puede encontrar m&aacute;s informaci&oacute;n sobre los tospovirus en Tospovirus (Familia Bunyaviridae, G&eacute;nero Tospovirus) (<a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp134">http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp134</a>). -- de PP306, Tomato Chlorotic Spot Virus

Tospovirus

Alternate terms:&nbsp;Hassaku dwarf virus, CTV (Citrus tristeza virus), Lime dieback virus, Citrus quick decline virus, Citrus tristeza closterovirus, Grapevine A virus

Citrus tristeza virus

Tristeza

West Nile encephalitis virus. Encephalitis caused by a virus of the Flaviviridae family. Causes West Nile fever, which is characterized by headache, fever, arthralgia, maculopapular rash, myalgia, lymphadenopathy and leukopenia. Transmitted and/or spread by mosquitoes from the genus Culex (family Culicidae).
Entry terms: Kunjin virus, West Nile flavivirus, WNV (West Nile virus), KUNV (Kunjin virus)
&nbsp;

West Nile Virus

Virus del oeste del Nilo 

Entry terms: Flavivirus febricis, YFV (Yellow fever virus)
Yellow fever is an&nbsp;acute infectious disease primarily of the tropics, caused by a virus and transmitted to man by mosquitoes of the genera Aedes and Haemagogus. The severe form is characterized by fever, hemolytic jaundice, and renal damage.

Yellow Fever Virus

This page lists useful information about the Zika virus. The primary focus of the science-based information and recommendations to be found here are ways you can reduce your exposure to mosquito bites and ways you can reduce the mosquito populations around your home and neighborhood.
Good sources of information about the disease in humans are the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/">CDC</a>, <a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/zikavirus.html">MedlinePlus</a> and <a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/zika-virus">NIH</a>.
For current University of Florida information including communications, prevention tips, resources, and research, see the UF Zika Prevention website at <a href="http://zika.ufl.edu">http://zika.ufl.edu</a>.
<h2>UF/IFAS resources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://fmel.ifas.ufl.edu/general-information/zika/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Essential Information on the Zika Virus (FMEL)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/Zika.htm">Mosquito Information: Zika</a></li>
<li><a href="http://zika.ufl.edu">UF Zika Preparedness and Guidelines</a></li>
</ul>
Entry terms:&nbsp;SPOV (Spondweni virus),&nbsp;ZIKV (Zika virus),&nbsp;Spondweni virus

Esta p&aacute;gina proporciona enlaces a recursos sobre el zika en espa&ntilde;ol del Laboratorio de Entomolog&iacute;a M&eacute;dica de Florida, los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades de EE. UU. y el directorio Medline Plus de la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina.

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