Aedes
Aedes
Aedes (/ˈiːdiːz/; from Ancient Greek: αἴδης, aīdēs, "unpleasant") is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents excluding Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity. Aedes mosquitoes are of great medical importance due to their role in the transmission of certain diseases.
Etymology
The name Aedes comes from the Ancient Greek word αἴδης, meaning "unpleasant" or "odious". This is likely due to the unpleasant diseases that species of this genus can transmit.
Species
There are over 700 species in the Aedes genus, including:
- Aedes aegypti - The yellow fever mosquito, a vector for several tropical fevers.
- Aedes albopictus - The Asian tiger mosquito, which can transmit diseases such as dengue fever and Zika virus.
Disease Transmission
Aedes mosquitoes are vectors for several important diseases, including:
- Dengue fever - A mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus.
- Zika virus - A member of the virus family Flaviviridae and primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes.
- Yellow fever - An acute viral disease, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
- Chikungunya - A viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.
Prevention and Control
Prevention and control of Aedes mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit involve several strategies, including:
- Insecticide use - Chemicals used to kill insects, including Aedes mosquitoes.
- Source reduction - The elimination of mosquito breeding sites.
- Biological control - The use of natural enemies to control mosquito populations.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Aedes
- Wikipedia's article - Aedes
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