According to the CDC, the number of mosquito-borne infections has been rising at a steady rate since 2014 in the US. This is due to the expansion of mosquito populations in new territories and their habitat range increasing. Widespread travel and commerce are also playing a part in the increase of these diseases. So what diseases can these pests actually spread? Let’s find out.
The Zika virus
This virus has been in the news lately, because it has started spreading in various areas of the country, particularly in the southeastern regions. Most cases of Zika are mild, but they can have long term consequences, especially in young children.
The Chikungunya virus (CV)
This disease is rarely fatal when treated, but it can cause debilitating joint pain. It is still fairly rare in the US, but the disease has been locally acquired (someone was infected within the country) as early as 2014, and every state except Iowa, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and Montana have reported at least one case.
The West Nile virus (WNV)
The WNV can cause serious neurological damage, and the number of cases in the US is on the rise. However, most people will show no or very mild symptoms when infected with the virus. There are currently 75 mosquito species that can transmit this virus across the US, and it can be transmitted between humans, birds and horses.
Dengue
There are hundreds of millions of cases of dengue each year across the world, with about 100 countries having the disease in an endemic stage. Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, and the worst forms of this disease can lead to death if untreated, especially in children.
Controlling mosquito infestations
While these diseases are still rare in the US, there is a chance they may re-emerge because of the number of species that can transmit them. The best way to make sure that you are as safe as possible from these diseases is to work with a pest control pro and have any mosquito infestation on your property removed. The removal process is fairly straightforward, and it involves destroying the mosquitoes’ breeding grounds.
If you would like to know more information about what this control process involves, or if you have a mosquito infestation on your property that has to be removed, contact us today and one of our team members will help you out.
