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What Diseases Do Mosquitoes Spread?
Mosquitoes are one of the most infamous insects in the world for their ability to spread dangerous diseases. Each year, over 700,000 deaths world wide are attributed to vector-borne diseases. These diseases show up at much higher frequencies in tropical and subtropical climates, but affect people all over the world. These are the most common diseases that people contract from mosquitoes:
- Malaria
- Dengue
- Zika virus
- Rift Valley fever
- West Nile virus
- Schistosomiasis
- Chagas disease
- Yellow fever
Which Mosquito Species Transmit Diseases?
The three mosquito species that spread diseases are Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles. Multiple species within these mosquito families are all capable of passing on diseases through their bites. Thankfully, most mosquito species aren’t capable of spreading the more dangerous vector-borne diseases. The dangerous mosquito species are usually only active in tropical regions, but we have had reported cases of the Aedes mosquito here in Moore County.
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What Diseases Do Mosquitoes Carry in our country?
Out of the 200+ mosquito species identified here in the United States, only 12 are capable of transmitting diseases. Mosquitoes have been found carrying Dengue, chikungunya, Zika virus, and malaria in the U.S. These outbreaks happened in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The vast majority of malaria cases in the U.S. stemmed from cases of recent travelers bringing it back from tropical regions. It is very unlikely that any mosquitoes you encounter around Moore County are carrying dangerous diseases.
Symptoms of vector-Borne Diseases from mosquito bites
If you receive a mosquito bite in our area, you will most likely only experience mild symptoms for a few days, but it is important to be aware of the signs of a bite with more serious consequences. If you are feeling any of these symptoms and believe them to be related to a recent mosquito bite, talk to a medical professional:
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rash
- Muscle tremors or seizures
- Severe headaches
- Sudden high fever