Why Are Mosquitoes So Dangerous?

As astonishing as it may sound, mosquitoes are considered to be the most deadly animals on earth. Yes, they are even more deadly than grizzly bears, sharks, and poisonous rattlesnakes put together. But why are mosquitoes so dangerous?

There are many reasons why these pests cause so many deaths, but one significant reason has to be the fact that they live in almost every human habitat (besides Iceland). So while a grizzly bear may indeed kill you more quickly and more violently than a mosquito, the odds of most people ever crossing paths with a ferocious grizzly are slim to none.

On the other hand, eventually bumping into a mosquito is almost guaranteed. If you live in a humid area of the country such as the South and Southeast, mosquitoes are everywhere. The hot and humid weather here in Atlanta puts you at elevated risk for mosquito-borne illnesses.

That’s why it is so vital to ensure that you and your family are protected from these deadly pests. It is crucial to implement the proper mosquito control practices in and around your home. That’s the mission Mr. Mister’s mosquito control service was conceived for in the first place.

Our mission, at Mr. Mister, is to create a mosquito-free safe place; and we do this by offering a wide range of mosquito control solutions for residents throughout the surrounding communities. However, while mosquito control is readily available for the masses, most simply shrug off the idea of truly stomping out these pests altogether.

One of the main reasons for this lack of respect for mosquito control is a lack of knowledge when it comes to the actual dangers of mosquitoes. With that in mind, we at Mr. Mister want you to be as informed as possible about the real dangers of mosquitoes.

Zika Virus

First discovered and identified in Uganda in 1947, Zika Virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito, which is the same mosquito that can transmit other deadly illnesses such as dengue and yellow fever,  as well as chikungunya.

Up until 2007, Zika was contained solely to Africa and parts of Asia. Some historical studies point to widespread human infection, but only a handful of cases were reported. Starting in 2007, cases of Zika spread to Micronesia. It spread to many new areas over the next decade. In 2015 and 2016 there was a widely publicized epidemic in the Americas. Cases were also reported in a handful of major cities in the United States. While the virus has not entirely disappeared from the U.S., the epidemic waned by 2017.

Zika is spread by mosquito bites. However, it can also be transmitted sexually and is believed to cause birth defects in children born to infected women. During the 2015-2016 epidemic, this led many countries to promote safer sex or even abstinence. The virus itself produces flu-like symptoms and can be deadly if not treated properly.

The Dangers Of Zika In Pregnant Women

While contracting Zika virus is dangerous for anyone, including your children, it is especially hazardous for pregnant women.

This is because Zika can is linked to a serious birth defect in infants whose mothers had Zika during their pregnancy. The defect, called microcephaly, is a condition where babies are born with brain damage and underdeveloped heads. The CDC advises pregnant women to avoid traveling to areas of the world with ongoing Zika transmission.

West Nile Virus

With Zika virus taking the national and international spotlight, many people, as well as local governments, have overlooked West Nile.

While West Nile may not be making the type of headlines that Zika did, it is, by no means, a thing of the past. Documented cases of West Nile have increased every year in the U.S. since late 2009. West Nile usually passes with very few symptoms. But that’s also what makes West Nile so dangerous. Once a human contracts the virus, it typically produces no symptoms, making it undetectable until, in some cases, it’s too late.

In some rare cases, West Nile virus can lead to a brain damaging neurological infection, which can, in turn, lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord).

This is why you and your family should be practicing proper mosquito control in your home and around your property with solutions like Mr. Mister.

Additional Mosquito-Transmitted Diseases To Watch Out For

In addition to the mosquito-transmitted diseases that are currently affecting parts of the United States, like Zika and West Nile Virus, there are a number of other mosquito-borne illnesses that you should watch out for.

Dengue Fever

Despite its low public profile, 360 million cases of dengue fever are reported each year. While most of these cases occur in tropical areas of the globe—including Southeast Asia, Southern China, Taiwan, the Pacific islands, Mexico, and Africa—this doesn’t mean U.S. residents are immune to the illness.

This is because many of the areas affected by dengue are tourist destinations for thousands of U.S. citizens each year. Most American cases contracted the disease in one of those areas and brought the virus home with them.

The illness itself, which commonly referred to as dengue fever, is a debilitating and painful mosquito-transmitted disease that is caused by one of four closely related dengue viruses. Surprisingly, these viruses are in close relation to the viruses that cause West Nile and yellow fever.

Symptoms of dengue fever typically appear four to six days after being bit by a mosquito carrying the disease. They include sudden high fever, severe headaches, severe joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, fatigue, nausea, skin rash, and mild bleeding.

Chikungunya

Many people are unfamiliar chikungunya, and if you’re one of these people, consider yourself lucky. Chikungunya is another illness that is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, along with Zika and many others, and it causes a multitude of severe symptoms.

First discovered in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya has gone on to infect millions of people worldwide including populations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and (most recently) North and South America. Mosquitoes infected with the virus are known to bite throughout daylight hours, which is why the disease is so easy to catch. Infected mosquitoes are active and biting when humans are outdoors the most.

Chikungunya disease is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever followed by extreme joint pain which typically leaves the sufferer stooped over in pain, unable to walk upright.

The most troubling part about chikungunya is the fact that there is currently little remedy. There are no vaccines and no specific antiviral drug treatments for the virus. This means that if you contract chikungunya, you’ll only be able to receive treatment for the symptoms while the infection itself persists.

What You Can Do To Prevent Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Now that you’re aware of just has dangerous mosquitoes can be, you should be looking into proper mosquito control measures to prevent these diseases.

Wearing repellent and dark clothing whenever you’re away from your home will help in the short term. But to eliminate mosquitoes entirely from your property, you’ll need to find a real mosquito control solution that provides a much higher level of protection.

For residents, you can count on the solutions provided by Mr. Mister. They’ll keep you and your family safe from disease-carrying mosquitoes. At Mr. Mister, we offer a wide range of mosquito control solutions that are guaranteed to create a mosquito-free barrier around your property.

ClearZone Mosquito Misting Service

ClearZone Mosquito Misting is by far our most popular solution for mosquito control. By opting for Clearzone Mosquito Misting service, you’ll have a mosquito control expert at your disposal. Your technician will arrive at your property for periodic treatments about every 21 days. But if you notice a mosquito between treatments, just let us know. We’ll come back for an extra treatment, on us.

All of our mosquito control solutions utilize our 100% biodegradable mosquito misting spray. The spray settles on foliage and outdoor furniture. It eliminates any adult mosquitoes lurking around your yard and killing off any larvae. This ensures your property is protected now and in the future.

Automated Mosquito Misting Systems

If you want a more permanent mosquito control solution, you should opt for our automatic mosquito misting systems.

These systems utilize a network of nozzles which disperse our mosquito misting spray throughout your yard on a daily basis. The system is set to spray at times of the day when mosquitoes are most active. With the automated system, your yard is continuously protected from disease-carrying mosquitoes.

All of our automated mosquito misting systems are designed precisely to fit your yard. They can be hidden within your landscaping and along your fencing to provide a discreet, yet super-effective mosquito control solution. You can also adjust the times of day your yard receives treatment as often as you like. Every system comes equipped with a remote. This means you can choose to treat your foliage whenever your children or pets aren’t utilizing the yard.

If you have any questions regarding any of our solutions for at home mosquito control, contact Mr. Mister today, or click here to get a free quote.

Mr. Mister Mosquito Control
4016 Flowers Rd #400
Atlanta, GA 30360
(404) 941-0720