Mosquito Diseases

Malaria

Malaria Definition
An infectious disease characterized by cycles of chills, fever, and sweating, caused by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium in red blood cells, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito. Also called jungle fever, paludism, and swamp fever.

Malaria Information
Malaria is most commonly found in tropical coutries and climates such as Sub-Saharan Africa. The infectious disease is spread by the saliva of mosquitoes causing roughly half a billion infections and two million deaths annually. Infants, youth, and the elderly face a higher risk of complications from the disease.

Malaria Symptoms
Symptoms of malaria include cycles of chills, fever, sweating, headaches, muscle aches, and general flu like symptoms. If malaria goes untreated comas and death are possible.

How Malaria Works
Female anopheles mosquitoes that have been infected carry the parasite in their saliva glands. When a person is bitten by the mosquito, the parasite enters the persons body and travels to the liver to reproduce in liver cells. They also migrate into red blood cells located in the liver to reproduce. The end of each reproductive cycle release toxic substances which destroy or damage the red blood cells.

Malaria Treament
Prevention is the best way to avoid the complications of malaria, but it is also possible to treat those who are infected with antimalarial drugs such as quinacrine, chloroquine, and primaquine. Vaccinations are available to help prevent malaria.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus Definition
A viral disease of varying severity, occurring in Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, and parts of North America, that is transmitted by a culex mosquito.

West Nile Virus Information
West Nile Virus found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is also the cause of a number of conditions in humans, horses, and some other mammals. It is transmitted by bites of infected mosquitoes.

Symptoms Of West Nile Virus
Symptoms of West Nile Virus include high fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, laziness/sleepiness, muscle ache, skin rash, and sometimes encephalitis or meningitis.

West Nile Virus Treament
There is currently no treament for West Nile Virus, however, a large percentage of patients infected with West Nile Virus make a full recovery on their own. complications from West Nile Virus are more likely in those over 50 years old.