With the flux of COVID-19 cases globally, other common diseases have been set aside in the meantime. That doesn’t mean that these diseases have taken a step back in causing fatalities around the world. Insect-related diseases, particularly mosquito-borne diseases, continue to affect individuals in the United States. The focus on the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be blamed, but individuals and communities should continue raising awareness for the disease risks that mosquito bites bring.
Most mosquito-borne diseases do not have specific treatments, and it is wise to be aware of the different types of diseases out there that might affect you if bitten by a mosquito. Some of these viruses are dengue fever, yellow fever, and the West Nile virus. Common symptoms of mosquito-borne diseases are fever, muscle pain, and headache.
Learn how to ward off insects, especially pesky mosquitoes, when you have kids in the household and the community. A trap for Asian tiger mosquitoes will greatly benefit the household’s health and well-being, especially during this difficult time. Warding off these insects will allow you to live a healthy and comfortable life today.
Warding Off Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes often lurk during warm months, so summer is the peak mosquito season for these insects. Households and the rest of the community need to know how to ward off mosquitoes during this time to avoid contracting mosquito-borne diseases. This pandemic is not the time to be complacent in terms of health and well-being so being informed is how to go. Here are ways to ward off insects during mosquito season to keep you and your family safe.
Having a mosquito-free home means preventing them from entering your house in the first place. Attach nets to your windows and tightly close doors as the sun goes down. Mosquitoes are seen to be more active during dusk, so be mindful of when you close your home’s entryways.
As you prevent mosquitoes from entering your house, it is also important to prevent mosquitoes from breeding inside your home. Pooled water is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes, so make sure there aren’t any inside your home.
These are some ways that you can protect your home from these pesky disease-carrying mosquitoes. Make sure you brief your family about these measures so that you can all work together towards having a mosquito-free home.
Mosquito-related Diseases
As mentioned, many mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent in the United States. This is why communities and households need to learn how to prevent breeding mosquitoes in their areas. It is also crucial to be aware of the various common mosquito-borne diseases in the country. Here are some of them.
The West Nile virus (WNV) is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. While many individuals do not show sickness symptoms, some experience fever and other symptoms. Today, there are still no vaccines to prevent or treat WNV.
Dengue is a common disease in more than 100 countries worldwide, and it is known that the virus can infect an individual up to four times in their lifetime. Each year, about 22,000 people die from severe cases of dengue.
These are a couple of the common mosquito-borne diseases in the world. While many of these diseases have yet to develop a vaccine or medication, we need to know their existence to be informed of what to do in case of infection.
Mosquito Myths
Many of us get annoyed about insect bites, and more so when they come from pesky mosquitoes. While we already know some information about mosquitoes and how to keep them away, some myths about these insects need to be debunked.
Contrary to popular belief, food intake barely affects the rate of mosquito bites in an individual. Certain foods do not repel or attract mosquitoes very much. What draws mosquitoes the most are carbon dioxide and heat. This means that a post-workout walk might make you much more prone to mosquito bites.
Another common myth is how there are no mosquitoes in the United States. While there are seasons with minimal mosquitoes, such as during winter, mosquitoes remain in the country, and they continue to pose risks to the population.
Getting bitten by mosquitoes can become annoying, but it can be avoided, especially when you are at home. Take the time during this quarantine period to try to mosquito-proof your home to avoid contracting any mosquito-borne virus in the middle of a global pandemic.