The 'killer' gene, that could dramatically alter the course of the Zika virus in America, shortens the life of the insects' young and should make the population crash, halting the spread of the disease.

The news will bring relief to health officials in Zika-infected Miami after fears the insects had grown a resistance to insecticide.

Public Health England released a statement following reports of three people in West Yorkshire being treated for the virus after returning from overseas. It said the risk to the general public is low.

Normally, two thirds of US citizens oppose abortions after 24 weeks. But a Harvard poll has found that 59 per cent favor abortions of Zika-infected babies at any stage of the pregnancy.

It is the biggest one-day spike in diagnoses to date as the city struggles to control the virus. The development means there are now 21 people being treated for local transmission of the virus.

The study by the University of Southern California is the most significant step towards understanding the infection amid widespread confusion about how it inflicts life-threatening conditions in babies.

Until now scientists believed the virus would fade after three months. But this week an Italian man tested positive for Zika 188 days after he was first infected.

The star took to Twitter on Saturday after many were put off by a Snapchat story she shared earlier in which her mom Dianna Hart joked, 'Everybody down in Rio gonna get the Zika virus!'

The billboards - paid for by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and erected in and around Fort Lauderdale - showed a condom with the words 'Prevents Zika transmission' inside it.

The finding makes clear the need for pesticide programs that kill both adult mosquitoes and their eggs. Current methods are not adequate, warns study co-author Dr Robert Tesh of the University of Texas.

Even with pre-clinical and early stage clinical trials underway, we still may not see a Zika vaccine licensed and approved for use in humans for years.

Researchers at Glasgow University have been able to shed more light on how the Zika virus works by sequencing the full-length genome of the virus from a patient in Brazil.

The sudden onslaught of floods and torrential rain brought by Matthew over the weekend to Florida's east coast has destroyed areas of contained water where the species which carry the disease thrives.

Monroe County residents have backed a proposal to release a lab-developed group of mosquitoes designed to infect the Zika-carrying mosquito population with a fatal disease.

She was hoping to make a mercy dash to Brazil with her children to see her dying grandmother.

Officials lifted the warning on Tuesday, saying more than 45 days had passed since they have found a new last local case of the mosquito-borne infection.

A new study has found that, when it comes to warding off mosquitoes, nothing beats mosquito spray. Researchers have warned against candles and alarms - branding the latter 'snake oil'.

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District released 20,000 male mosquitoes infected by the Kentucky-based company MosquitoMate with naturally occurring Wolbachia bacteria.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found 100 percent of monkey fetuses had traces of the virus - causing inflammation of the optic nerves. They say it could apply to humans.

A man was diagnosed with the Zika virus in Texas, which is the first infection transmitted from a mosquito local to the country this year.

FEMA is using modified Air Force C-130 aircraft to spray chemicals in Houston and likely Florida to help control disease-carrying mosquitoes from breeding in the regions following recent storms.

Scientists at British biotech firm Oxitec are infecting female mosquitoes (the only ones that bite) with a hereditary gene that means their offspring cannot survive outside a lab.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a device they call a LAMP OSD which can plug into a smartphone to reveal whether a mosquito is the Aedes aegypti species.

Health officials say they discovered Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - known to carry Zika virus and dengue - in York County, Nebraska, on Tuesday . It's the first time they've been seen in the state.

EXCLUSIVE: Poland centre-forward Robert Lewandowski is growing increasingly unsettled at Bayern Munich and would now consider a move to the Premier League.

French side AS Monaco have signed Polish defender Kamil Glik on a four-year deal from Italian side Torino, the clubs confirmed on Monday.

Everton and Napoli target Arkadiusz Milik will not be allowed to leave in this window, say his club Ajax. The Polish star is understood have agreed to stay at least until January.

Top scorer Fernando Llorente has boosted Swansea by being declared fit to face Bournemouth as Paul Clement insists there is no need to panic after the setback against Hull.

The countdown to the 2018 World Cup ramps up significantly on Friday when the draw for next summer's tournament in Russia takes place.  Sportsmail previews how it will all happen.

Sportsmail's CHRIS SUTTON gives his verdict ahead of an action-packed day of World Cup football as he tips tournament hosts Russia to beat Egypt with or without star man Mo Salah.

Portsmouth striker Ronan Curtis has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for Tuesday night's friendly in Poland. The 22-year-old has been added to a depleted party for the game in Wroclaw.

SPAIN UNDER-21S 5-0 POLAND UNDER-21S: Pablo Fornals was among the scorers as Spain secured their place in the semi-finals of the Under-21 Euros with a 5-0 win against Poland.

A stoppage-time strike by substitute Rodrigo cancelled out Marcus Berg's opener for Sweden and gave Spain the draw they needed to qualify for Euro 2020.

Moreno, who was formerly assistant manager, took charge of the national team when Luis Enrique stepped down in June due to the his daughter being seriously ill - she tragically passed away in August.

SPAIN 5-0 ROMANIA: Gerard Moreno scored a brace as Spain concluded their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with an emphatic 5-0 win at home to Romania.

Roberto Moreno's final act as Spain boss saw him reportedly produce an emotional rant to his players in the dressing room with a dramatic u-turn seeing Luis Enrique return as manager.

Robert Moreno has refused to shed any further light on the nature of his exit as Spain manager after being dramatically forced aside for Luis Enrique this week.

Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. This week they give Sportsmail a lowdown on 18-year-old Arsenal centre forward Folarin Balogun.

THE SECRET SCOUT: Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. This week, the lowdown is on 18-year-old Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour.

Researchers in Germany measured levels of butyl paraben (BuP) in the urine of 629 mothers. Those with higher concentrations were more likely to have overweight children in their first eight years of life.

Zara McDermott has taken to social media to defend her one and a half stone weight loss after being 'attacked' by trolls who called it 'harmful and damaging'.

Former adult film actress Jenna Jameson gained back 20 pounds when she halted her keto diet plan in late 2019 

The singer, 35, took to Instagram on Tuesday to show off his two month weight loss transformation.

Natasha Bunby, 38, from West Sussex, who shed 11st after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, reveals how she's managed to keep the weight off for seven years.

Posting an incredible before and after snap, the entrepreneur, 48, was radiant as she shared a backdated, curvier image in a pink gown and a current, svelte snap

Tiffiny Hall has slammed a health brand for using her post-pregnancy transformation photos to promote their weight loss stickers.

India Faulkner-Wiley, 38, from Lancashire, told Femail that her weight went up to 13.5st when she became addicted to takeaways after the birth of her children, Jazmine, 13, and Saffron, 5.

The Radio X presenter, 46, showed off the fruits of his labour, as he presented at the Global Awards 2020 which took place at London's Eventim Apollo Hammersmith on Thursday.

An obese nurse, from Queensland, who felt like a 'hypocrite' when dishing out health advice to patients has lost 50 kilos in an incredible body transformation.

Toni Weeks, 51, from Bedfordshire, has told how she shed 10 stone in 13 months on a 'smart' weight loss plan that focuses on 'rewiring' eating habits - and also allows treats and alcohol.