Mosquitoes are more than just annoying little pests—they’re also carriers of some nasty diseases. The recent uptick in mosquito-borne illnesses across the U.S. has left many folks worried about how to stay safe. According to Dr. Marc Siegel from George Washington School of Medicine, the best way to protect yourself is to limit your mosquito exposure. Seriously, avoid being outside from dusk to dawn when these bloodsuckers are most active. If you must venture out, suit up in long sleeves and pants, and douse yourself in mosquito repellent, especially if you’re in wooded or swampy areas.
Let’s get one thing straight: not every mosquito out there is packing a virus. There are over 200 types of mosquitoes in the continental U.S., but only about a dozen can transmit diseases like West Nile, malaria, and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Still, climate change is spreading these illnesses to new regions, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Kicking things off with West Nile virus—birds are the main culprits here. Mosquitoes bite infected birds and then pass the virus to humans. The chance of catching West Nile is pretty low—only about one in five people show symptoms like fever, headaches, and vomiting. And get this: only one in 150 affected folks end up seriously ill. Yet, it’s the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. Cases have been reported in 33 states this year alone. Dr. David Sullivan from Johns Hopkins says a lot of cases likely go undiagnosed, but your chances of being struck by lightning are still higher. No specific meds or vaccines exist for this one, so stay vigilant.
EEE is nothing to mess with either. This rare but deadly disease usually lurks in eastern and Gulf Coast states. Most folks don’t show symptoms, but if you do, expect fever, chills, body aches, and joint pain. In severe cases, it can hit your brain, causing encephalitis, which can be fatal. So far, the CDC has reported a few cases this year, including one in an 80-year-old man in Massachusetts. Local health officials quickly issued outdoor curfews to mitigate further risk. There’s no vaccine for EEE, so precaution is key.
Malaria, on the other hand, was booted out of the U.S. in the mid-1950s but still rears its ugly head. Most cases are imported from tropical regions, but recently, there have been local outbreaks in Florida and Texas—the first since 2003. Symptoms can range from mild flu-like illness to severe disease, but hey, at least there are prescription treatments and a vaccine available in malaria-prone areas.
Dengue rounds out the list, infecting up to 400 million people worldwide each year. Only some show symptoms like aches, eye pain, and nausea. It’s mostly a problem in tropical and subtropical zones, but the U.S. isn’t immune. Limited local cases have popped up in states like Arizona, California, and Hawaii. While there’s no specific treatment, pain relievers can help, and there’s a vaccine for certain age groups in high-risk areas.
Mosquitoes may seem like mere nuisances, but the diseases they carry are anything but trivial. With West Nile, EEE, malaria, and dengue on the rise, it’s crucial to take preventive measures. Avoid peak mosquito hours, cover up, and use repellent to protect yourself. Stay sharp, folks. Ignorance is bliss until you’re the one bitten.
Source: Healthline