Why Do Mosquitoes Kill the Most Humans?
WouterAmong the world’s deadliest animals, mosquitoes are by far the deadliest. They cause hundreds of thousands of deaths a year. They are responsible for 17 percent of the world’s total infectious disease burden.
The mosquitoes spread a number of diseases to humans, including malaria, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile fever, and dengue fever. Some of these diseases also cause encephalitis.
Malaria is one of the deadliest mosquito-borne diseases. It is a parasite that causes fever, chills, and headaches. It multiplies in red blood cells and in the liver. It causes a painful swelling of the lymph system called lymphatic filariasis. It is one of the world’s leading causes of disability.
Malaria is spread by the Anopheles mosquito. It is most common in sub-Saharan Africa. It accounts for 600,000 of the 725,000 malaria deaths in the world each year. It is the primary cause of death for children under five years of age.
Other mosquito-borne diseases include dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and Zika virus. Mosquitoes also carry the filarial worm.
Mosquitoes are small enough to go unseen until the damage has been done. They are also known to cause allergic reactions to people. They can be found in nearly every part of the world. They have been spreading many of these diseases for centuries. But improved sanitation, vaccines, and targeted mosquito control efforts have helped to keep many of them in check.
Mosquitoes can also cause social discrimination. Female mosquitoes feed on humans and spread parasites that cause lymphatic filariasis. These parasites can cause a painful swelling in the lymph system.
