An Introduction to Mosquito Borne Diseases

Activity 1.1 - Stopping Mosquito-Borne Disease

The core resource for this module is the HHMI interactive multimedia slide set - Stopping Mosquito-Borne Disease. Using Dengue fever as the context, it introduces and explains fundamental ideas related to mosquito-borne diseases. It uses clear graphics, short embedded videos, interactive questions to prompt students’ thinking, and a large case study. Rather than work through the entire resource from beginning to end, it is suggested that the case study section be used as a separate activity towards the end of the module. The teacher can work through the slides with the whole class. Alternatively, students can work independently on their own devices, with the teacher calling the class together to check student understanding, as well as to discuss, explain and reinforce the main ideas.

The downloadable document below is a suggested approach to using the HHMI Stopping Mosquito-Borne Disease multimedia interactive as a whole- class teacher-led presentation. Of course, there are other ways in which the resource may be used. Students may work through the slides at their own pace and/or in their own time. The structure and support provided is dependent on the learning needs of the students. Some quiz questions might be used to focus the students’ attention on the more important ideas.

Key learning objectives as listed in the video:

• Think about infectious diseases, and how they can be contained
• Learn about the role of vectors in spreading infectious diseases
• Understand the mosquito life cycle, including the major developmental stages
• Devise intervention to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne infections

Activity 1.2 - Deadly messengers

This activity uses the document Deadly Messengers produced by Rx for Survival – A Global Health Challenge

Teachers Guide: Deadly Messengers (248KB pdf)

This document is a guide for teachers. It suggests showing the following video to students Deadly Messengers RX FOR SURVIVAL

Note: The video is very long! It’s best to suggest students watch the video as a homework assignment before you do this activity. In this “Deadly Messenger” guide, students conduct a role-play to examine how a vector transmits a disease. Groups of students research West Nile virus and six mosquito-control techniques. They find at least two arguments in favor of and against each technique and use them to debate the pros and cons of spraying insecticide to control mosquitoes. The class then discusses which combination of techniques might work best to reduce the number of malaria-related deaths around the world. There is also a student worksheet at the end.

Activity 1.3 - Researching a Mosquito-borne Disease (Group project)

Purpose: for students to learn about the different types of mosquito borne diseases.

Time: 1 to 2 hours

Setting the task:

1. There are many types of mosquito borne diseases that occur throughout the world and even within Australia. Ask if students can name a few MBDs.

   Instructions to students: Working in groups you will choose and research a type of MBD with the aim of delivering a 5-minute presentation to the class.

   Research the following information for your chosen disease:

   • Where the disease occurs
   • The number of people affected
   • Details of transmission
   • Treatment options
   • Prevention options
   • Whether vaccinations are available
   • Other import issues specific to the disease

2. Have students work in groups of 3 or 4.

3. Assign a MBD from the World Health Organisation list or from the list discussed in Activity 1.

   This may include Ross River, Barmah Forest Virus etc.

4. Note: the group that is assigned Malaria must explore why its method of transmission is different from other types of MBDs.

5. Refer the students to the list of references below.

Resources students might use to complete Activity 1.3:

Activity 1.4 - Student Laboratory Activity - Factors That Affect the Mosquito Life Cycle

Instructions for this activity can be found at: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/classroom-activities-factors-affect-mosquito-life- cycle

There are three documents available for download.

1. The teacher’s guide
2. The students guide
3. The mosquito reference manual (listed earlier)

Summary:
(Taken directly from the web page)

“Arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, can transmit various disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa between vertebrate hosts. Studying the life cycles of such vectors may suggest strategies for limiting, or even stopping, the spread of the diseases they transmit. In this activity, students test variables that might affect the life cycle of the mosquito. Mosquitoes transmit a number of important diseases, such as malaria, West Nile disease, and dengue fever.

For this practical activity, students rear mosquitoes in chambers that allow them to make observations without risking the release of the insects into the classroom. Although it takes about two weeks for the mosquito life cycle, and this activity, to be completed, observations require only a few minutes each day. The activity is appropriate for a general, honors, or AP high school biology course and an undergraduate biology course. It can also be adapted for the middle school or primary school life science classroom.”