Monday, August 31, 2009

Mosquito: The Human World's Deadliest Enemy

By transferring several types of deadly diseases into the bloodstream, mosquitoes are the world's deadliest animal (Image © AP/PA Photos)

The mosquito rarely lives longer than a month and is not as ferocious or visually intimidating as a raging carnivore, but it comes in much more regular and intimate contact with humans, than any other dangerous creature.

It also rapidly spreads deadly and contagious diseases, leading to the death of more humans, than any other member of the animal kingdom.

By injecting parasites and viruses into the blood stream, the mosquito causes upwards of two million deaths a year. According to Dr. Mark Rowland of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, malaria is responsible for 800,000 to one million of those deaths.

Malaria, Elephantiasis, West Nile virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, etc are all deadly diseases that are spread by mosquitoesand there are many more.

While the most dangerous breeds of the bug are local to Africa, Asia and North America, it’s still a good idea to stock up on bug repellent for those humid, mosquito-filled nights.

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