How Much Mosquitoes Can Kill You
WouterHundreds of millions of people are infected with diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya every year. Mosquitoes are the main carriers of these diseases, which are responsible for millions of deaths each year.
While mosquitoes are often thought of as obnoxious, they are actually deadly. They carry and transmit many diseases to humans, including malaria and yellow fever. Some of these diseases, such as encephalitis, are extremely serious.
Malaria is the most common and most deadly mosquito-borne disease. A single bite from a mosquito infected with the parasite can be fatal. This is because the parasite multiplies in red blood cells and travels to the liver, causing high temperatures and headaches. In severe cases, the person will suffer from a condition known as hypovolemic shock, which leads to major organ failure.
Another mosquito-borne disease, Zika, has been linked to long-term neurological effects in babies born to infected mothers. In addition to spreading malaria and yellow fever, the mosquito also carries the chikungunya virus.
There are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world. Of these, only 100 species can infect humans. In the United States, there are about 175 species.
In North America, the Asian tiger mosquito is the most common biter. They tend to live in forests and feed on nectar sugars rather than blood. In addition to carrying malaria, chikungunya, and dengue, these mosquitoes have recently been reported to carry the Zika virus.
Other diseases that mosquitoes carry include the Western equine virus, the Eastern equine virus, and the West Nile virus. In addition, some viruses, such as the LaCrosse virus, cause encephalitis.
