As summer is drawing ever nearer, so is the inevitable appearance of the dreaded mosquito. These little pests consume our blood, which fuels them to create more blood-sucking babies. Typically, their bites create small itchy patches that go away after several days. Besides being a nuisance, mosquitoes carry diseases that can harm human health. Warmer and more humid areas typically have a higher number of these pests, but they can still be found in most areas of the world and the United States.
USA-Relevant Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
Most of the time, mosquito bites do not cause much else besides itchiness, but there are certain diseases that they can transmit while drinking our blood. One disease that has been found in all states, though it is more concentrated in the south, is the West Nile Virus (WNV). Thankfully, this disease is typically quite tame. 80% of individuals who contract this illness do not experience any symptoms. The 20% that do typically only have mild symptoms like fever, rash, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. However, 0.0067% (1/150) of individuals may develop serious, occasionally fatal symptoms.
A less-common illness that has been reported in the USA is dengue fever. Most of the cases have been reported in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands, though cases have been reported in Texas, California, and Florida. Dengue fever is a more severe virus that can cause symptoms such as rashes, high fevers, pain behind the eyes, and more. Less commonly, it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as hemorrhagic fever and/or dengue shock syndrome. Severe dengue fever needs medical attention immediately, as symptoms such as bleeding from the gums, difficulty breathing, or persistent vomiting can indicate a potentially fatal reaction.
International Illnesses Resulting From Bites
As previously mentioned, more severe illnesses are found in warmer/humid environments. More severe illnesses are located in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. One such example is the Zika virus. While some people who contract it may not experience any symptoms, a portion of individuals may have drastic side effects such as miscarriages, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and Neuropathy. People who are pregnant should be especially careful and try to avoid bites as much as possible, since fetal complications are common.
Another virus that has the potential to cause severe issues is the Yellow Fever virus. As with the aforementioned viruses, afflicted individuals typically have less-severe symptoms like fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. However, this particular pathogen has the ability to cause jaundice, bleeding, and severe abdominal pain. Once people experience these symptoms, the chance of fatality is at least 50%. Luckily, most countries where the virus resides have vaccines that, once administered, last for life.
Concluding Thoughts
Mosquitoes can transmit a plethora of illnesses. While most tend to be mild/symptom-less, they all carry the risk of fatality. So, what can you do to lessen or eliminate your risks of this? If you live in a country where more severe viruses are present, talk to your doctor about which ones you can get inoculated against. If no vaccine is available, the best defense against mosquito-borne illnesses is avoiding bites in general. This can be done by avoiding high-risk areas like swamps, using mosquito repellent, and wearing high-coverage clothes.
