What Diseases Do Mosquitoes Carry?
AL.com recently reported that two Alabama cities made the list of the top 20 mosquito infested places in the country. Huntsville and Decatur took the 17th spot on the list, but there are many other areas of the state that see their fair share of mosquitoes. These bugs aren’t just annoying and painful, they can also pose a serious health risk to both people and animals if proper professional mosquito control isn’t utilized.
Alabama’s Most Common Disease Carrying Mosquitoes
There are approximately 60 mosquito species in Alabama. Educational facilities like Alabama A&M and Auburn University have identified which of these species are the most harmful types of mosquitoes. They include the following disease-carrying species:
- Asian Tiger Mosquito
- Japanese Encephalitis Mosquito
- Yellow-fever Mosquito
- Southern House Mosquito
- Eastern Treehole Mosquito
Identifying the species of mosquito in your area is important for understanding the potential health risks they pose.
West Nile Virus
By far the most concerning health risk associated with mosquitoes is West Nile Virus. It’s a virus that is transmitted largely by mosquitoes after they have bitten an infected bird. You’ll be happy to know that the vast majority (80%) of people infected with West Nile Virus never have any symptoms. Only about 1 in 5 will get sick with flu-like symptoms, and only around 1% will become seriously ill. Unfortunately, there are many more cases of illness and death over the last 12 years.
Symptoms of West Nile Virus:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Body Aches
- Joint Pain
- Fatigue
- Rash
Encephalitis Viruses
LaCrosse Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus can all be transmitted by mosquitoes that have bitten infected animals. These viruses can cause a potentially dangerous medical condition known as encephalitis. This is inflammation in the brain that can cause problems like severe headaches. It can take up to 2-3 weeks after the infection for signs of encephalitis to show up.
Symptoms of Encephalitis Viruses:
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Body Aches
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Paralysis
- Muscle Weakness
- Double vision
- Loss of Consciousness
- Speech Problems
Dengue Fever
It is a rare disease, but there have been cases of Dengue Fever in the southeast. This illness is caused by the Dengue virus, which there are five of. If you become infected you’ll likely become immune to that type of virus. However, a subsequent infection from another type of Dengue virus can increase a person’s risk of serious complications. The biggest threat is if Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever forms. This infection can cause dangerously low blood pressure, low blood platelet levels and bleeding.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever:
- Muscle Pain
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint Pain
- Skin Rash
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne illness that Americans only need to worry about if they haven’t been vaccinated and travel abroad to Africa or South America. Even then, not everyone who is infected will become sick. If you are unlucky enough to get sick from Yellow Fever you should be treated right away because the fever could lead to more serious problems like liver disease.
Symptoms of Yellow Fever:
- Chills
- Headache
- Body Aches
- Fever
- Nausea
- Back Pain
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Vomiting
Malaria
Like Yellow Fever, Malaria cases in the U.S. appear to occur in travelers that have recently visited affected areas such as Africa or South Asia. Regardless, there are approximately 1,500 cases a year here, millions around the world and hundreds of thousands of deaths from Malaria. The illness is caused by a parasite in mosquitoes.
Symptoms of Malaria
- Flu-like Symptoms
- High Fever
- Chills
Heartworms
If you have dogs, cats or even ferrets you should be aware that mosquitoes can also transmit Heartworm Disease. Heartworms are parasitic roundworms that enter the lung arteries and sometimes the right portion of an animal’s heart. When a mosquito bites an infected animal they ingest microfilariae, which are the young of heartworms. The microfilariae then develop into infective larvae inside the mosquito over the next two weeks. When they bite other animals they transmit the larvae that will grow into heartworms.
Symptoms of Heartworm in Dogs:
- Easily Fatigued
- Persistent Cough
- Reluctant to Exercise
- Reduced Appetite
- Weight Loss
Symptoms of Heartworm in Cats:
- Feline Asthma-like Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Gagging
- Rapid or Problematic Breathing
- Weight Loss
- Lethargy
If you are concerned about controlling the mosquito population around your Alabama home, please contact Vulcan Termite and Pest Control, Inc. to learn more about our mosquito control services.
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes_albopictus#mediaviewer/File:Aedes_Albopictus.jpg
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/healthy-living/diseases-mosquitoes-carry/