Diseases

Mosquitoes can carry many types of diseases that are caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses. These
diseases include:
Malaria - Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted by an Anopheles mosquito. The parasite
grows in your bloodstream and can produce symptoms that develop anywhere from six to eight days
to several months after infection.The symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches and
general malaise (similar to flu symptoms). Malaria is a severe disease that can be fatal, but can be
treated with antimalarial drugs. Malaria is prevalent in tropical or sub-tropical climates.
Yellow Fever - Yellow fever no longer occurs in the United States or Europe, but it is prevalent in
Africa and parts of South America. It is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Yellow fever
produces symptoms similar to malaria, but also includes nausea, vomiting and jaundice. Like malaria,
yellow fever can be fatal. There is no treatment for the disease itself, only the symptoms. Yellow fever
can be controlled by vaccination and mosquito control.
Encephalitis - Encephalitis is caused by viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes such as
the Aedesmosquitoes or Culiseta mosquitoes. The symptoms of encephalitis include high fever, stiff
neck, headache, confusion and laziness/sleepiness. There are several types of encephalitis that can
be transmitted by mosquitoes, including St. Louis, Western equine, Eastern equine, La
Crosse and West Nile. West Nileencephalitis is on the rise in the eastern United States, which has
raised concerns about mosquito control .
Dengue Fever - Dengue fever is transmitted by the Asian tiger mosquito, which is native to East Asia
and was found in the United States in 1985. It is also transmitted by Aedes aegypti in the tropics.
Dengue fever is caused by a virus that produces a range of illnesses, from viral flu to hemorrhagic
fever. It is especially dangerous for children (see Dengue Fever & Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever for
more information).


Food
Typically, both male and female mosquitoes feed on nectar and plant juices, but in
many species the mouthparts of the females are adapted for piercing the skin of
animal hosts and sucking their blood as ectoparasites.