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Diseases Transmitted by Mosquitoes

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Mosquitoes are more than an annoying backyard pest. Certain mosquito species can carry viruses and parasites that cause disease in people and animals. While the risk of mosquito-borne illness varies by location and season, understanding how these diseases spread is another important reason to manage mosquito activity around your home.

How Do Mosquitoes Spread Disease?

Female mosquitoes feed on blood to obtain the nutrients needed to produce eggs. When a mosquito feeds on a person or animal infected with certain pathogens, the mosquito can become infected and later transmit the pathogen through another bite.

Not every mosquito carries disease, and different mosquito species can transmit different pathogens. This is why mosquito surveillance and population control are important parts of public health efforts in areas where mosquito-borne diseases are present.

What Diseases Can Mosquitoes Transmit?

Several mosquito-borne illnesses can affect people in the United States and other parts of the world. Some of the most recognized include:

• West Nile Virus: Primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and one of the mosquito-borne illnesses regularly monitored in the United States.
• Zika Virus: Primarily spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes, including species also capable of transmitting dengue and chikungunya.
• Dengue Fever: A viral illness primarily spread through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
• Malaria: Caused by parasites transmitted to people through infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Chikungunya: A viral disease transmitted primarily by infected Aedes mosquitoes.

Mosquito-borne disease activity can change from year to year and by geographic area. While many U.S. cases of diseases such as dengue are associated with travel, local transmission can occur when mosquitoes become infected and spread the virus within a community.

Dengue Fever and Mosquitoes in Florida

Dengue is primarily spread through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes commonly live around people and can lay their eggs in containers and other areas that collect water around homes. Unlike some mosquito species that are most active around dawn or dusk, mosquitoes capable of spreading dengue may bite during both the day and night.

Locally acquired dengue means the infection was transmitted by a mosquito within the local area rather than being associated with recent travel. Health officials monitor mosquito populations and reported illnesses to identify areas where mosquito-borne disease activity may be occurring.

Common symptoms of dengue can include fever, headache, muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting and rash. Anyone concerned about dengue symptoms or possible exposure should contact a healthcare provider or local health department for medical guidance.

Reducing Your Exposure to Mosquitoes

Reducing mosquito bites and mosquito populations around your property can help limit exposure to mosquitoes. Personal protection measures such as insect repellent and protective clothing can help reduce bites, while eliminating standing water and mosquito breeding areas can make your property less attractive to mosquitoes.

Learn more about mosquito bites and how to avoid them or explore ways to keep mosquitoes away from your property.

For homeowners dealing with persistent mosquito activity, professional mosquito control can help target mosquito populations and common breeding areas around the property. Learn more about Rocket Pest Control’s mosquito control services.