There is a lot we don’t think about when it comes to pests and mosquito-borne disease is one of those things. Here are some facts to help you learn more.
There are many different pathogens that can be transmitted by mosquitoes. In the Unites States there are some diseases much more common than others. There are also some that exist other countries, but not here. Below is a short list of the more common illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes in the United States.
This infection is cycled between birds and mosquitoes and then transmitted to mammals, yes we humans are mammals. Most cases of West Nile occur from a mosquito at night in the mid-summer months. Symptoms are very similar to those of a flu, with severe cases being potentially fatal.
This mosquito-borne disease is one that is becoming more and more common due to adaptation abilities of the species that transfer it. With four strains of dengue out there, it is fatal if infected with more than one serotype. Symptoms include fever and headache followed by belly pain, vomiting, bleeding from gums, and tiredness.
When infected, the person experiences excruciating joint pain that may last for several weeks. There is no vaccine and primary treatment is limited to pain medication. In addition to the joint pain, other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
This is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito of two different species. These species often bite on lower extremities. Zika virus is usually mild with a fever, rash or joint pain but can last months. Also, Zika virus can cause a birth defect of head and brain size that is life threatening.
Dogs, cats and other animals can get infected with this life threatening disease when they have been bitten by a mosquito that is carrying the roundworm larvae. If the infected mosquito feeds on a human and the worm is inserted, the worms will die, however a pet is an ideal host for these worms.