Mosquito Bites And What To Do With Them
The result of a mosquito bite can be extremely irritating. But that’s the least of your worries because mosquitoes not only leave you with an unbearable itch, they can also pass on diseases. Some of which are deadly. So how do mosquitoes pass on disease? What is it about their bite that makes them so dangerous?
What happens when a mosquito bites you?
Mosquitoes use their needle-like nose (or you could argue ‘mouth’) to penetrate the skin when they feed. It’s only the females that bite because they need blood to be able to lay their eggs. Here’s a useful video as to how a mosquito might be feasting upon you if you’re not protected.
How many times does a mosquito bite you?
Have you discovered one mosquito bite? Then another? Then another? This is because that very same mosquito may have not had enough blood from just one bite. Mosquitoes can drink up to three times their weight in blood, so she may have just taken a ‘breather’ before going back for a second or third helping!
How do you know if a mosquito has transmitted disease?
If you feel unwell, and you think it may be the result of a mosquito bite, then it’s advisable to seek medical assistance. The following article gives an overview of some of the most common mosquito-borne diseases and the symptoms you might identify.
Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world. Their ability to carry and spread disease to humans causes millions of deaths every year. In 2015 malaria alone caused 438 000 deaths. The worldwide incidence of dengue has risen 30-fold in the past 30 years, and more countries are reporting their first outbreaks of the disease. Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever are all transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. More than half of the world’s population live in areas where this mosquito species is present.
Is anywhere safe from mosquitoes?
As the above article mentions, more than half the world’s population will have some form of mosquito species present. Some of them more dangerous than others. Mosquitoes like the heat, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist in parts of the world with a cooler climate.
Where to Move if You Never Want to See a Mosquito Again
There are five parts of the world where mosquitos don’t live. This seems like useful information, though unfortunately (and obviously), they’re not exactly centers of commerce and culture. Jobs are scarce, for example, in Antarctica. But for those who dread the high-pitched whine and red lumps that accompany summer evenings, here’s a quick snapshot of each of the four places on earth where mosquitos are not found and people are.
Unless you wish to uproot to somewhere more remote, then we would suggest that you ensure you are up to date and ‘in the know’ with mosquito prevention methods. We can keep ourselves safe from these killer critters. Every effort to protect your health is worth it.
A fan of a nice cup of tea, a vintage camera, books, music, writing and meeting new and exciting people developing their own ventures.
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