Mosquito Outbreak Manila: 5 Facts About The Mosquito Scare

What should you know about the mosquito outbreak in the Philippines?

1. Mosquito bites transfer a variety of deadly diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and zika virus.
2. The mosquitoes that transmit these diseases are females.
3. Mosquitoes can sense you through heat.
4. Mosquitoes can breed in small bodies of water.
5. Among others, Malaria remains the world’s deadliest mosquito-borne disease.

Though the intense heat of the summer sun means that it’s vacation time, there’s a danger that must be avoided as well. The additional heat and humidity attracts mosquitoes to suck your blood. You should be very careful about this and with good reason, too. How scary are mosquitoes? Read on to discover 5 facts about the big deal with these pests.

More so, if you’ve got mosquitoes circling your home, you should definitely call pest control in the Philippines ASAP!

Fact #1: Mosquito bites transfer a slew of deadly diseases

Dengue, malaria, Chikungunya and the Zika virus are just some of the viral infections mosquitoes transfer to humans. The scary part is that there is no known or specific cure to any of these diseases. For yellow fever and Chikungunya, medical experts can only treat the symptoms, not the source. All they can probably do after that is pray and hope for the best.

In order to understand these diseases further, here’s a brief discussion to help you with:

• Dengue

Dengue is the most viral mosquito infection that Filipinos struggle with, and while the fight against this disease may be challenging for the government and the people, it can be said that the Philippines have, at least, reduced the population of people who gets easily infected with this viral infection.

Basically, dengue is transmitted by mosquito species such as the Aedes aegypt and Aedes albopictus. Its symptoms include: joint pain, high fever, rashes, headache, muscle pain, swelling of joints, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. These signs appear within 3 to 7 days after the mosquito bite.

• Chikungunya

Chikungunya is widely known as a mosquito-borne disease that’s particularly similar to dengue in certain points. From the species of mosquitoes that transmits the disease to the signs and symptoms that appears as one gets infected with it. However, unlike dengue, Chikungunya differs in terms of the severity of the disease. While the joint pains may appear incapacitating, it is not as fatal as the latter.

• Malaria

Malaria, alongside dengue, is a serious disease that the Philippines has been battling with for several years now. Fortunately, the efforts of the government has been resulting in positive numbers, comparatively lower than that of the earlier years.

Basically, malaria is a disease rooting from a single-celled parasite called protozoon belonging in the family of genus plasmodium. The reason why malaria is prevalent in the country is that, mainly, the four main species of this parasite – Plasmodim falciparum, plasmodium vivax, plasmodium ovale, and plasmodium malariae – are all present in the Philippines. Now, the female infected mosquitoes of Anopheles specie transmit these parasites to people through bites.

Commonly, malaria symptoms appear in high grade fever that recurs every after 2 to 3 days. After the fever, the infected person will experience lasting chills, and as it subsides, he/she will experience marked sweating.

The common problem with malaria is that it develops into anemia and kidney and liver failure. However, at difficult times, this can also develop into cerebral malaria.

• Zika Virus

Zika virus is yet another terrible mosquito-borne disease that threatens the life of newborn babies. It is transmitted by the mosquito specie Aedes aegypti, and is spreading across various countries around the globe. Unfortunately, as of writing, there is no vaccine nor cure for Zika virus, hence it is considered a pandemic in progress.

This virus causes developmental issues and even death to babies, which for one includes the neurological disorder where the babies are born with small heads.

Fact #2: The mosquitoes that transmit these diseases are females

This isn’t really a scary fact, but more of an interesting tidbit you can take home after reading this article. It is the female mosquitoes (not the males) that drain your life juice. Why? These femme fatales need your blood to fertilize their eggs before laying them in the water. And if they’ve come from really dirty, unsanitized places, you are vulnerable to the diseases mentioned, in fact #1 the moment their proboscis comes into contact with your skin. Yikes! It’s time to pull out that mosquito repellent and rub it thoroughly over your exposed skin areas.

Fact #3: Mosquitoes can sense you through heat

Just like The Predator in the Alien vs. Predator films, mosquitoes are able to track their victims through their heat sensors located on the tip of their antennae, not via eyesight.

Their vision, by the way, is very poor; hence, the reliance on their sensors. Once they get within 10 feet (or 3 meters) of their target, they home in like heat seeker missiles. The efficiency of their sensors increases by a factor of 3 when the environment’s humidity is very high. This means they can sense you from 30 feet (or 6 meters) away. That’s also why mosquitoes suddenly come out of the woodwork to play during the summer season.

Another way they can sense their next victim is through the carbon dioxide we exhale and our scent. If you want to avoid this, wear light-colored clothing like white and yellow when you go out. And make sure you wipe your sweat regularly.

Fact #4: Mosquitoes can breed in small bodies of water

That means unclosed water pails, tanks, and even puddles after a rainstorm. If you want to decrease the chance of mosquitoes in your home, make sure you don’t leave water undrained from faucets, sinks, tubs, or uncovered in the case of pails.

Fact #5: Among others, Malaria remains the world’s deadliest mosquito-borne disease

Today, Malaria is considered to be the deadliest mosquito-borne disease with more than a million people dying from it every year. While it may only start as a fever, chills, and a flu-like illness, it may result to serious diseases when left untreated. Even more, into death. Hence, immediate action should be taken into account as one notices these particular symptoms.

Key Takeaway

Hopefully, these facts will better prepare you for dealing with mosquitoes during the summer season. If you know any other interesting facts about these winged pests, feel free to share your info in the comments section below.