Mosquitoes cause more suffering to humans compared to any other organism. Thousands of people suffer from mosquito-borne diseases and side effects in the United States every year. Mosquito bites also cause severe skin irritation due to allergic reactions to the saliva of the mosquito. Here are some of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in the US.
Zika
The Zika virus was discovered in East Africa in 1947. The virus has been spreading across the world since then. It has already spread to the other parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and recently to the US territories such as the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. There have been 5,158 Zika virus disease cases reported in the US states so far. More than 4,800 cases were due to travelers returning from affected areas. Although the disease could be transmitted via sexual intercourse, it is far more likely to occur due to bites of Aedes mosquitoes. That’s why mosquito control is very important to prevent the disease from spreading. Most people would suffer from symptoms such as fever, red eyes, and joint pain. Many patients who carry the virus will not show any symptoms. Get the latest on 2017 US Zika virus statistics here: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/united-states.html
Malaria
About 1,500 Malaria cases are reported in the United States each year. Most of the time, it is due to travelers and immigrants who have visited high-risk countries in the world. The Anopheles mosquito carries the virus and spreads it from person to person. The major symptoms include fever, flu, and headaches. It is important that you contact a healthcare professional as soon as you discover that you are suffering from the disease. Malaria could be life-threatening most of the time.
Dengue
This is another common disease spread by a mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). The illness could result in severe complications if not treated early on. The major symptoms are mild fever, headaches, and nausea. Severe dengue cases could result in leaking blood vessels and death over time. In fact, all dengue cases reported in the US were acquired elsewhere by immigrants and travelers returning to the country.
In conclusion, mosquito-borne diseases are plentiful across the world. Millions of people suffer from various mosquito-borne diseases every year. That’s why you need to be cautious and contact your healthcare provider as soon as you know that you have been infected with a virus spread by a mosquito.
The best way to cure mosquito-borne diseases in the US is to prevent them before they happen. Be proactive about getting your backyard treated for mosquitos, remove standing water on your property, and keep screens on windows so that the bugs don’t get in your home.