(Courtesy: JJ Harrison)
Mosquitoes are common, flying insects that live in most parts of the world. Almost everyone has been bitten by one, and felt the itch and slight swelling at the spot of the bite. Mosquito bites can spread germs which sometimes cause diseases like West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, or malaria.
Habitat
Mosquitoes live in areas with slow-moving or stagnant water, as well as forests, marshes, and tall grasses. Mosquitoes fly and land on animals or humans to bite the host's skin and consume blood. Warmer and wetter climates can increase the risk of getting an illness from a mosquito. In Wisconsin, climate change has created favorable conditions for mosquitoes to survive in more areas of the state, has made the mosquito season longer, and allows infected mosquitoes to spread diseases faster.
Illnesses Caused by Mosquitoes
West Nile Virus
Anyone can get West Nile virus, but people who spend more time outdoors are at a higher risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are usually most active in Wisconsin from May to September. Common signs and symptoms include: Fever, Headache, Muscle aches/Joint pain, Rash, Swollen lymph nodes, Photophobia (sensitivity to light), and Nausea/ Vomiting. No specific treatment, over-the-counter pain relievers may be given.
Dengue Virus
Cases of dengue in Wisconsin residents occur in people who have traveled to tropical or subtropical regions with a high risk of dengue, including the Caribbean, South and Central America, Asia, and parts of tropical Africa. Dengue is very rarely spread in the U.S.; however, there have been outbreaks in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Those that become sick may develop severe flu-like symptoms and recover after about one week.
Zika Virus
Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, but can also be transmitted through sexual interaction or from mother to child. The mosquitoes that can become infected with and spread Zika virus live in many parts of the world, including parts of the United States. Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. The most common symptoms of Zika are: Fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.
(WI Dept. of Health Services)
Control
Mosquitoes need water to breed. Remove and prevent standing water in your yard by covering trash and recycling bins, pouring out drain dishes under flower pots, cleaning up leaves from pools, emptying gutters, emptying and cleaning bird baths, and using larvicides in fountains.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)