Can Mosquitoes Kill You?
WouterDuring World War II, the US military was battling mosquitoes in the Pacific. Today, mosquitoes have gained international attention due to the introduction of new diseases.
There are more than 2,500 different species of mosquito, and they have the ability to spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue. Each year, approximately 200 million people are infected by malaria.
Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest type of malaria, kills around 400,000 people each year in sub-Saharan Africa. The mosquito is also the primary host for many other pathogens. Some viruses, such as the Western equine virus and the LaCrosse virus, can cause encephalitis.
In the United States, the threat of encephalitis from mosquitoes is greater than the threat of malaria. In fact, tens of millions of Americans die each year from mosquito-transmitted disease.
There are a number of ways to prevent mosquitoes from getting into your home. You can empty kiddie pools and flowerpot basins, use insect sprays with picaridin, or use biorational larvicides. The best protection is to wear tight-knit wool clothing.
Insect repellents with DEET can kill the mosquito. There are also new products that are being developed, such as electronic magnetic barriers.
Some species of mosquito are resistant to widely used insecticides. The Aedes aegypti has evolved to survive in urban environments. This is the mosquito responsible for the Zika virus.
The Aedes vittatus, another type of mosquito, is known as the proven vector of the chikungunya and dengue viruses.
