If you ask most Nigerians what diseases are spread by mosquitoes, malaria is likely to be the answer you will get. While this is true, the awful truth is that mosquito bites transmit more than malaria because the disease that a particular mosquito carries depends on the mosquito type.
So, what other kinds of diseases are mosquitoes capable of inflicting on their victims?
Some Diseases Spread By Mosquitoes
Zika
For most folks, the symptoms of this virus are mild: just a fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The real danger may be to pregnant women and their babies. It’s linked to a congenital microcephaly disability, which causes small heads and brain damage. Mosquitoes spread this disease in many parts of the world, including Brazil and other countries in South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia
Chikungunya
Chikungunya virus is primarily found in Africa and Asia, yet it was found in 2013 for the first time in the Western Hemisphere.
Snowshoe hare virus
The disease is named for an animal because it was first identified in the blood of the snowshoe hare. The first person to catch this lived in Canada in the 1970s, but it now shows up in the U.S. It causes headache, dizziness, vomiting, and a rash. Sometimes it leads to inflammation of the brain.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever virus is a rare tropical illness in Minnesota travellers, with vaccination being one of the most critical steps in prevention.
Dengue
Dengue fever is a tropical disease that rarely occurs in the continental United States. Small outbreaks have happened in the past in states such as Florida, Hawaii, and Texas.
The bottom line
Whether malaria or other sister diseases, mosquitoes are killers. Rid your environment of mosquitoes by disposing of empty containers that could hold unwanted water for days. Use mosquito-treated nets, and also insecticide in well-ventilated rooms as necessary. See a doctor HERE if you’re experiencing malaria-like symptoms
