Introduction
What kind of damage can a mosquito cause? After all, they just buzz around and try to bite you, right? The bite doesn't even hurt too much. However, the big deal is the disease. These parasites can transmit disease from one carrier to another, which is why mosquito control is so important.
How Mosquito Disease Is Spread
To understand the dangers, it's important to know how mosquitoes spread disease. When a mosquito feeds, it first uses its saliva to prevent blood from clotting. Then it draws a small amount of a person's blood into its system. If the person is infected with a disease, such as malaria, the cells replicate inside the insect and will later be transmitted to its saliva. The next time it feeds, the saliva can transmit the disease to the next victim.
The Most Dangerous Creature on the Planet
Without question, the mosquito is the most dangerous creature on the planet. When one considers that mosquitoes are responsible for killing more people than all the wars in history by spreading diseases directly to humans, this statement becomes much more believable. Mosquitoes that transmit malaria kill two to three million people and infect an additional two hundred million or more every single year! Tens of millions of other people are killed and debilitated by a plethora of other mosquito-borne diseases like Yellow Fever and Encephalitis.
#1. Malaria
Malaria is acknowledged as the oldest recognized disease attributed to mosquito bites. It's also notorious for the number of deaths it has caused throughout the world. People staying in tropical and sub-tropical regions are at high risk. Chemical pesticides, better hygiene, and overall improvement in living conditions have contributed to effective control of the disease's proliferation in the USA. But it pays to take precautions and ensure that antimalarial conditions are created and maintained. Globally, malaria still affects an estimated 300–500 million people annually, and approximately one million of those die each year.
#2. Chikungunya
The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by the Asian Tiger mosquito and the Yellow Fever mosquito. The most distinguishing symptoms are joint pains that are excruciating. People affected by the virus experience debilitating effects for a few weeks, during which making even the smallest body movements can be a slow and painful task.
#3. Dengue Fever
Dengue is a major health threat in countries spread across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Dengue is characterized by symptoms that can be extremely uncomfortable. The frequency and intensity of the disease have been on the rise in recent times, raising alarm bells among governments and health authorities across the world. The virus is mainly carried by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
#4. Encephalitis
St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) is a mosquito-borne disease that affects people across the US, mainly those who are very young or very old. Culex species mosquitoes transmit the virus from birds to human beings. Symptoms are typically flu-like — fever, sore throat and headache. However, severe afflictions could manifest in rising body temperature, severe headache, seizures, and coma. Survivors can suffer brain damage and need lifetime nursing.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has similar symptoms. The virus is transmitted by Culex species mosquitoes to humans and animals, mainly horses. The disease affects the central nervous system and in serious cases can lead to permanent brain damage.
#5. Zika Virus
The Zika virus is a hazardous disease transmitted directly to humans by the bite of a mosquito. There is a link between the Zika virus and neurologic conditions in infected adults, including cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The Zika virus is feared mainly because it can result in babies with microcephaly — a congenital defect affecting cranium and brain size and performance. Zika fever in pregnant women can cause abnormal brain development in their fetuses, resulting in miscarriage or microcephaly.
As of now, there is no approved treatment or vaccine for Zika virus. To protect against all mosquito-borne diseases, professional mosquito control is essential. Contact Rest Easy Pest Control at 888-927-9842 for comprehensive mosquito control services.