Top Mosquito Borne Illnesses Prevented by Mosquito Control

Did you know mosquito control treatments could prevent life threatening illnesses?

Mosquitoes act as vectors and transmit bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. Top mosquito borne illnesses include malaria, chikungunya, West Nile virus, Zika virus, and dengue. Diseases caused by mosquito bites affect more than 700 million people globally and lead to more than a million deaths each year. There are around 150 species of mosquitoes in America.

Malaria

Of all the diseases spread by mosquitoes, malaria is by far the biggest killer. In America, the female Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Anopheles freeborni mosquitoes are the vectors for the malaria parasite. Mosquito control programs implemented in the 1940s brought down the number of malaria cases in America. The widespread use of DDT, and chlorine and phosphate based insecticides eradicated malarial mosquitoes from large parts of America. Today, minor outbreaks occur, but without effective pest control, these can easily escalate. These outbreaks are usually traced to immigrants and tourists. In the absence of effective pest control, malaria-carrying mosquitoes severely affect the quality of life. Outdoor recreation, attending games, rearing animals, and developing real estate are all affected.

West Nile fever

This fever is caused by a Flavivirus. The virus spread from Africa to the rest of the world. The first case in America was detected in 1999. The most notable case of this viral outbreak in the United States happened in Texas in 2012. 1,868 cases were reported and there were 89 fatalities. Most cases of this viral disease involve flu, which usually resolves by itself. Some cases; however, are neuroinvasive in nature and are forms of encephalitis and meningitis. In America, the Culex pipiens species of mosquitoes is responsible for the spread of this disease in urban areas. In rural America, Culex tarsalis is the main carrier of this virus. The control methods for these two vectors are different, and it is important that a pest control company know the correct measures.  

Zika Virus

The Zika Virus, which was first detected in the Zika forests of Uganda, spreads through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. In America, almost all the cases reported have been travel-related. Tourists returning from abroad have been treated for this condition. Florida remains the only state to have recorded locally acquired cases, which have been traced to the Aedes aegypti. This mosquito is active during the daytime and is also responsible for the spread of dengue and chikungunya. The Aedes mosquito prefers to lay its eggs in stagnant water around habitats. So, treeholes, discarded tires, tarpaulins, and puddles should be cleared. Clearing the oviposition habitats of these mosquitoes remains the only effective measure against the spread of this virus. Aedes mosquitoes have a limited flight range and stay close to a supply of blood, which they need for laying eggs. This virus is associated with the Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly, both are potentially fatal conditions.

Dengue

Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness that leads to a debilitating fever, rashes, muscle and joint pain, shock, and internal hemorrhaging. This disease is spread by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species of mosquitoes. In the United States, dengue outbreaks have occurred in the Florida Keys and south Texas. The lifecycle of the virus-carrying mosquito cannot be completed without water and blood - both these things are provided by humans. These mosquitoes are incredibly adaptable and resilient and regular control measures need to be implemented in order to prevent them from breeding. Pest control companies that you choose for your apartment complex or condominiums must know how to interrupt the lifecycle of these mosquitoes, be aware of the entomology and ecology related to their breeding, and perform effective control interventions.

Mosquito control is crucial because it saves lives. There are no vaccines for diseases such as malaria, Zika fever, dengue, and West Nile fever. There is no alternative to prevention.