Why Do Mosquitoes Cause the Most Deaths?
WouterAmong the world’s deadliest animals, the mosquito may not be top of mind. They carry and spread several diseases, including malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and zika.
Malaria is a particularly malicious disease. It’s a mosquito-borne disease that incapacitates 200 million people a year. It also drives people away from coastal areas, where mosquitoes thrive. As a result, half of the world’s population lives in malaria-risk areas.
Despite its deadly nature, the mosquito has also been a great evolutionary success story. It has adapted to the modern world and evolved resistance to widely used insecticides. It can lay eggs in a variety of outdoor and indoor containers.
In addition to transmitting malaria, the mosquito also carries several other viruses and parasites. Some of these include the zika virus, the filarial worm, and the encephalitis-causing parasite. They also are able to inject saliva into a wound, which contains an anticoagulant.
There are more than 2,500 different species of mosquito, and they live in virtually every region of the world. In the past 20 years, Canada has seen a 10 percent increase in the number of mosquito-related diseases.
The mosquito has also steered the course of history when used as a biological weapon in war. It’s been responsible for epidemics worldwide. And, because of its small size, it can go unnoticed until damage is done.
Another great mosquito-related invention is the ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug that kills mosquitoes that feed on people treated with it. It’s also a good idea to consider insect repellents to help prevent mosquito bites.
