The most dangerous animal in the world can be killed with just a swat: the mosquito.
Buzzing…
Residents in parts of Massachusetts are being warned to stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active after cases of rare eastern equine encephalitis were discovered, and former US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci was recently hospitalized with West Nile virus.
Both are nasty diseases spread by mosquitoes, but thankfully are relatively rare.
The best way to avoid getting sick is, of course, to avoid being bitten. That means using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and staying indoors when mosquitoes are out. Local health departments are also working to reduce mosquito populations, including by spraying neighborhoods with insecticides. In Massachusetts, officials are using trucks and planes this week to spray mosquito-prone areas.
Here are some common (and not-so-common) mosquito-borne diseases.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Most people infected with eastern equine encephalitis have no symptoms, but some develop fever and brain swelling, and about one-third of infected people die. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three cases of eastern equine encephalitis have been reported in the United States this year, one each in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont. The disease's worst year was 2019, with 38 cases. The disease is caused by a virus and is not very common around the world. The virus usually spreads in certain swamps, such as red maple and white cedar swamps in Massachusetts.
West Nile virus
About two in 10 people infected with West Nile virus develop symptoms, including fever and brain swelling. About one in 10 people who develop severe symptoms die. There have been 216 cases of West Nile virus so far this year. West Nile virus was first reported in the United States in 1999 in New York and has gradually spread across the country. In 2003, there were nearly 10,000 cases.
malaria
Malaria infected about 250 million people worldwide in 2022 and killed more than 600,000, most of them children. Malaria is caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes and mainly infects people in tropical regions such as Africa. Vaccination campaigns have been launched in recent months, which health officials hope will help reduce the number of cases and deaths.
Dengue fever
Dengue fever, also known as “breakbone fever” because it's so painful, is becoming increasingly common. About half of the world's population is at risk of contracting the disease, with 100 million to 400 million infected each year, according to the World Health Organization. Not everyone will experience symptoms, which can include fever, severe headache, and muscle and joint pain. Most cases in the United States are in people who have traveled to other countries, but the CDC says there have been about 2,600 cases in the country so far this year.
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