Mosquitoes are some of the most dangerous insects on the planet because of their ability to spread disease.

There are many diseases that are spread by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in standing water and cause ongoing issues and threats to you and your family and pets.Eliminating mosquitoes reduces the risk of disease to your family.

 

WESTNILE

WEST NILE DISEASE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PRESS IN RECENT YEARS. ALTHOUGH THE DISEASE WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN UGANDA IN 1937, IT IS ONLY IN RECENT YEARS THAT IT HAS SPREAD GLOBALLY. MANY PEOPLE WHO CONTRACT WEST NILE VIRUS DO NOT SHOW SYMPTOMS, BUT THOSE THAT DO HAVE A VARIETY OF ISSUES. THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM CLUSTER CREATES A FLU-LIKE EFFECT IN THE VICTIMS, AS IT PRODUCES A FEVER, MUSCLE ACHES AND HEADACHE. HOWEVER, THE DISEASE CAN BE MORE SEVERE AND CAUSE NECK STIFFNESS AND DISORIENTATION. THIS IS MOST COMMON IN VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SUCH AS THOSE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS OR THE ELDERLY.

ENCEPHALITIS

ENCEPHALITIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE CONDITIONS SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES. IN MOST CASES, THE DISEASE RESOLVES ITSELF AFTER CAUSING A FLU-LIKE EFFECT OF HEADACHE AND FEVER, BUT IF IT WORSENS, IT CAN CAUSE SWELLING IN THE BRAIN. IT INVADES THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND CAUSES FAR REACHING PROBLEMS FOR ITS SUFFERERS, AND CAN EVEN CAUSE DEATH IN SEVERE CASES, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS LEFT UNTREATED.

HEARTWORM

FOR DOG OWNERS, ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO YOUR PETS IS HEARTWORM. HEARTWORM IS A PARASITIC ROUNDWORM TRANSMITTED BY MOSQUITOES. THE LARVA OF THE HEARTWORM LIVES IN THE DOG’S HEART AND GROWS. TREATMENT OF HEARTWORM IN DOGS IS TIME-CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE AND IS BEST AVOIDED. ALTHOUGH MOST DOG OWNERS CHOOSE TO TREAT THEIR DOGS WITH PREVENTATIVE HEARTWORM MEDICINE, THE MOSQUITO CAN CAUSE SERIOUS EFFECTS IN UNTREATED ANIMALS OR STRAYS. THERE ARE SOME REPORTS OF DOGS THAT ARE ON HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT AND STILL COMING DOWN WITH HEARTWORM, SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOUR FURRY FRIEND TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.

MALARIA

MALARIA WAS ERADICATED IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1940S AND AS SUCH IS NOT A CONCERN FOR AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS. HOWEVER, THE DISEASE STILL CAUSES MILLIONS OF DEATHS EVERY YEAR IN AFRICA. MALARIA IS BOTH PREVENTABLE AND TREATABLE BUT MANY IN AFRICA LACK THE RESOURCES TO DO SO. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT MALARIA FIGHTING CHARITIES THAT WORK IN AFRICA TO ELIMINATE THIS DISEASE.