Mosquitoes, the Most Dangerous Animal on the Planet
Mosquitos are very common insects that you can find anywhere in the world. It’s an animal with a great capacity to adapt to its environment, and reproduces very quickly
If you combine these characteristics with the fact that mosquitos are disease-transmitting pests,, you get lots of deadly little blood-sucking machines.
Did you know that the mosquito is the animal that kills the most people in the world every year?
According to data from the World Health Organization:
- Almost a million people die globally due to mosquito-transmitted diseases
- 50% of the world’s population is at risk of suffering from a disease transmitted by this vector
This means that keeping mosquito populations under control in your property through different mosquito control treatments is a vital matter. Learn in more detail about the diseases that these dangerous insects can cause and how we at RDS Lawn Care can help you.
Zika Virus
Zika is a viral disease that mosquitos transmit through their saliva when they bite and that has the particularity that it can be transmitted also through blood transfusions, sexual contact, and from an infected mother to the fetus – in the latter case, it can lead to birth defects in the brain.
After being bitten, a person can remain with the virus in their body for 3 to 12 days before presenting the first symptoms, which generally include:
- Reddish patches on the skin
- Slight fever
- Headaches
- Conjunctivitis
- Muscle pains
Although many affected people may be asymptomatic, more severe cases with joint inflammation, vomiting and diarrhea can also occur.
In 2016, more than 5,000 people had the disease in the United States.
West Nile Virus
P: This is another virus transmitted by mosquitoes that in most cases presents minor symptoms. However, in some cases, infected people can also develop severe conditions in the spinal cord or brain.
P: West Nile Virus is the most common disease in the United States that is transmitted through mosquitoes, and the most common symptoms might include:
- Fever
- Headaches
- Body pain
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
P: These symptoms usually go away on their own within a few days, but the more serious symptoms related to the nervous system, such as disorientation, muscle tremors, seizures, and paralysis, can take months to disappear or even become permanent in some cases.
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is a disease whose cause can be viral or bacterial that is characterized by inflammation of the brain. Usually, encephalitis causes signs and symptoms very similar to those of the common flu, such as fever, headaches and general malaise, but in many cases, it doesn’t cause any symptoms.
On the other hand, in the most severe cases, this condition can cause confusion, seizures, sensory and motor problems, coma, and can even be life-threatening.
Symptoms of the infection may appear within a couple of days or weeks after being infected with the virus from a mosquito bite.
A full recovery can take months.
Heartworms
Dirofilariasis is a disease caused by the Dirofilaria immitis parasite, commonly known as heartworm.
This is a serious disease caused by a worm that installs in the heart and lung vessels, mainly in dogs, but also in cats, ferrets and other similar animals.
Once the animal has been bitten by the mosquito carrying the parasite, the larvae spread through the bloodstream and pass through the pulmonary arteries, affecting the lungs and finally settling in the heart. There they’ll develop into adult worms, which can be several centimeters long.
The initial symptoms of this condition usually are:
- Mild cough
- Apathy
- Tiredness
- Weightloss
But they can evolve into a strong cough and severe respiratory distress, what can cause the death of the animal.
Contact us
As you have seen, mosquitos can be deadly.
In case you’ve a mosquito problem and your property is located in Charlotte, Mt. Holly, and Belmont North Carolina at RDS Lawn Care we can help you with various mosquito control treatments.
Our team can provide you with a professional, high-quality pest control service during the warmest time of the year – between March and October – when mosquito populations are on the rise.
We’ll visit your property approximately every five weeks, to apply the appropriate treatments – safe and EPA-approved – to control these and other annoying pests, spraying a treatment to interrupt the larvae life cycle.
Remember, mosquitos are the most dangerous animals in the world for humans by transmitting a large number of diseases. Your health and that of your family are the most important matter.
