Why Mosquito Prevention is Important
Why Mosquito Prevention is Important
When you think about the most dangerous animal on the planet, your mind may race towards a mountain lion, or perhaps a tiger shark. However, these animals can not compete with the mosquito.
Compared to every other animal on earth, mosquitoes are responsible for the most deaths. But what makes them so deadly? Most people, when thinking about mosquitos, think about the annoyances they cause during backyard gatherings, and the painful, itchy stings they leave behind. While mountain lions may kill you in an instant, your chances of running into one are rather slim. However, your chances of running into a mosquito, carrying a deadly virus, is significantly greater.
What Makes Mosquitos So Dangerous?
Female mosquitos feed up to 0.01 milliliter of blood per feeding, therefore, unless a horde attacked you, dying as a result of a mosquito sucking your blood is impossible. The real threat mosquitos pose to humanity is not their blood cravings, rather it is their ability to spread deadly diseases. Mosquitoes, after feeding, can travel upwards of 80+ miles, giving them the ability to carry a various number of diseases over long distances.
While getting infected with in the United States is rather slim, mosquitos native to the US have been known to carry West Nile virus, the most common and deadly, but have also been known to transmit malaria, dengue fever, and chikungunya. Common symptoms of these diseases include confusion, dizziness, fever, and body aches. Symptoms can sometimes take up to three weeks to appears. So, if you get bitten by a mosquito and begin to develop flu-like symptoms, we advise that you see your doctor immediately.
Staying Safe
Within the United States, contracting a disease from a mosquito is unlikely but not unheard of. Therefore, it does not hurt to take precautions. When stepping outside,
- Cover as much of your skin as possible (Weather permitting)
- Use mosquito repellent
- Make sure all screens in your home are not damaged and are attached to all windows and doors.
- Avoid standing water around your house
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information, do not hesitate to reach out to us! Accurate Pest Control is certified in handling mosquito-related issues and will handle the matter professionally and safely.