Wednesday 1 April 2015

Mosquitoes: Spreading Disease One Bite at a Time

Just about everyone has experienced the itch that follows a mosquito bite. The high-pitched buzzing can be a sign that you’ll be itching the next day, but itching is hardly the biggest of concerns associated with mosquitoes. The truth is that these insects are flying disease factories. Flying from person to person with needle-like attack mechanisms that can transfer harmful diseases from one person to another. 

Malaria and West Nile Virus 

Especially in areas like Africa, malaria is a significant concern. It took quite some time to determine that mosquitoes were to blame for the spread of the disease, but that discovery has been helping to save lives. Countless deaths were caused by the tiny insects as they traveled around from person to person. The disease surfaced in the US, but aggressive control and preventative steps helped to stop it from becoming a significant problem. 

West Nile virus however is a topic of regular discussion in the Americas. From coast to coast, attempts to increase public knowledge about West Nile have been slow, but are increasing the frequency of bite prevention. As more people take precautions to prevent what seem to be harmless, itchy bites, the spread of these diseases can be slowed dramatically. 

Pets 

It’s important to know that pets are the target of mosquitoes too. Bites can cause heartworm in dogs and cats and lead to the spread of encephalitis from birds to humans, or other mammals. Protecting pets is also an important step for cracking down on mosquito-borne diseases. 

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