After rain season, beware of mosquito-borne diseases

Mosquitoes thrive soon after heavy rains as stagnant water is ideal for its breeding.

Mosquitoes are known for spreading some of the world’s worst diseases including malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, and dengue.

Only female mosquitoes actually bite.They use their mouth, which looks like an upside-down funnel with the narrow end pointing down, to pierce the victim's skin and draw blood or plant sap.

Mosquitoes bite places where blood is closest to the surface of the skin like face, neck, arms, wrists, legs and feet.

In the transitional phase from winter to summer, mosquitoes and insects spread widely due to some environmental and behavioral factors. Climatic conditions, as high temperatures with high humidity promote the rapid reproduction by growth and formation of larvae.

High growth of plants and trees in the summer, which increases the shade, provides hiding places for mosquitoes. Accumulation of waste water and garbage due to rapid urbanisation, provides a suitable environment for mosquitoes.

Reducing mosquitoes' spread, especially in the summer, requires joint cooperation between government and the community. Awareness campaigns must be activated about the importance of draining stagnant water and cleaning the surrounding environment, in addition to using preventive means such as anti-mosquito sprays and insect nets.

People must use mosquito repellents, wear protective clothing to reduce exposure to mosquito bites. They must make sure doors and windows are closed before sunrise and after sunset, when mosquitoes are most active.

In the event of exposure to bites and presence of symptoms such as fever or severe swelling, one must see a doctor immediately.

According to a new study, “mosquitoes represent a serious threat to human health due to a substance found in their saliva, which may cause death, as mosquito-borne diseases cause more than a million deaths annually. Saliva, which carries the virus that causes dengue fever, also contains a substance that may suppress the immune system response in humans, which causes about 400 million people to be infected each year and re-infection is possible. Symptoms include fever, nausea and rash, and in some cases, it can lead to internal bleeding or death.”