What’s the world’s most hazardous creature? Is that a lion, shark, or crocodile? No, it’s none of these. The world’s most hazardous organism is a small bug capable of transmitting fatal illnesses to people and animals. It’s a mosquito.
Mosquitoes cause over 700,000 fatalities per year, according to the World Health Organization. They may transmit illnesses including malaria, Zika, and West Nile virus. While some of these illnesses are rare or nonexistent in the United States, the West Nile virus poses a major hazard to every state, including California.
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In this article, we’ll look at why mosquitos are the most hazardous creatures on the planet, how they spread West Nile virus, and what Californians can do to protect themselves from this lethal disease.
Why Are Mosquitos the World’s Most Hazardous Creature?
Mosquitoes are the most hazardous creatures on the planet because they are carriers of several illnesses that may infect humans and animals. A vector is a creature capable of transmitting a disease, such as a virus, bacterium, or parasite, from one host to another. Mosquitoes can become vectors by feeding on the blood of an infected host and then biting another victim, introducing the disease into their circulation.
Mosquitoes can spread the following diseases:
Malaria is a parasite illness that affects millions of individuals in tropical and subtropical locations across the world. It produces fever, chills, headaches, and other symptoms. It can be lethal if not treated immediately and successfully. Every year, malaria kills around 600,000 individuals, the majority of whom are children in Africa.
Zika is a viral disease that first appeared in Brazil in 2015 and has since spread throughout the Americas and Pacific region. It produces modest symptoms such as fever, rash, and joint discomfort. However, it can cause major birth abnormalities in newborns whose moms become infected during pregnancy. Zika can potentially cause a rare neurological illness known as Guillain-Barré syndrome in certain individuals.
West Nile virus is a viral illness that was originally discovered in the United States in 1999 and has since spread to every state in the country. It produces flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pains. However, in extreme circumstances, it can induce serious neurological consequences like encephalitis or meningitis, which can result in paralysis, coma, or even death. The West Nile virus kills around 100 individuals each year in the United States.
How Can Mosquitos Spread the West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus is mostly transmitted by mosquitos of the Culex genus, which are widespread throughout California. These mosquitoes feed on sick birds and subsequently bite humans or other animals, spreading the virus. Not all mosquitos carry the virus, and not everyone who is bitten by an infected mosquito contracts the illness. However, the risk of illness rises in the summer and early fall, when mosquitos are more active and plentiful.
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According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the West Nile virus was first found in California in 2003 and has since been documented in all 58 counties. In 2020, there were 402 human cases and 17 fatalities from West Nile virus in California. The bulk of instances occurred in the Central Valley and Southern California, where the weather is warmer and drier.
What Can Californians Do to Protect Themselves Against the West Nile Virus?
There is no vaccination or particular therapy for the West Nile virus. As a result, avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding areas is the most effective strategy to minimize disease transmission. The CDPH recommends the following measures to lower the risk of West Nile virus infection:
- When outdoors, use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 on exposed skin and clothes, especially at dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside, especially in mosquito-infested areas.
- Install or repair window and door screens to keep mosquitos out of your house.
- Remove or drain any standing water in your home, such as flower pots, buckets, tires, bird baths, or gutters, where mosquitos can lay their eggs.
- Report any dead birds or tree squirrels to the local health department or the CDPH, since they may indicate the presence of West Nile virus in the region.
- Seek medical care if you have West Nile virus symptoms such as fever, headache, body pains, nausea, vomiting, or rash.
Final Words
Finally, mosquitoes, despite their small size, are among the most dangerous organisms on the planet because they serve as transmitters for lethal illnesses. The West Nile virus, which is abundant in California, highlights the serious health risk they offer. California residents may protect themselves by taking preventative actions, emphasizing the significance of decreasing exposure and removing possible mosquito breeding areas.