Mosquito-borne diseases
Mosquito-borne diseases
Mosquito-borne diseases or mosquito-borne illnesses are diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. They can transmit disease without being affected themselves. Nearly 700 million people get a mosquito-borne illness each year resulting in over one million deaths.
Pronunciation
Mosquito-borne diseases: /mɒˈskiːtoʊ bɔːrn diːˈziːz/
Etymology
The term "mosquito-borne disease" is derived from the English word "mosquito" which is a Spanish or Portuguese word for "little fly", and the English word "borne", derived from the Old English "beran" meaning "to carry".
Types of Mosquito-borne diseases
- Malaria: A disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans.
- Dengue fever: A viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes.
- Zika virus: A disease caused by the Zika virus spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.
- Yellow fever: A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes and Haemagogus species.
- West Nile virus: A disease spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Chikungunya: A viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.
Prevention
Prevention of mosquito-borne diseases primarily involves controlling the mosquito population and avoiding bites. This includes the use of insect repellent, protective clothing, and mosquito nets.
See also
References
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