This is the first time in our generation that something like this has ever happened. The novel coronavirus pandemic has spread to most corners of the globe. Well, at least it hasn’t reached Antarctica yet. But, in all seriousness, this is no laughing matter. Until December of last year, the world didn’t even know about Covid-19. Even the pest control industry has been dragged into the fray. That’s why today we’ll be discussing one such matter. We’ll talk about whether or not mosquitoes can spread coronavirus.
What is coronavirus?
In reality, the term coronavirus is an umbrella term. It refers to a large and diverse family of viruses. Even the common cold is in the coronavirus family. As well as Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome), and Mers (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome. The real name for the current pandemic causing virus is COVID-19. This is a variant of coronavirus that has never been seen or studied before, and we still don’t know much about it.
What we do know about this new virus is that it started in animals. Most of the first wave of infected humans either worked at or had visited the Huanan seafood market in China, and had picked up the droplet-spread virus from there. Yes, it spreads through droplets. It’s not airborne.
And if it’s not airborne, how did a human get it from an animal? Well, infections that can spread between people an animals are called Zoonotic diseases. Most transmissions from animals come one of several ways. Be it direct contact with feces or other bodily fluids, contaminated food or water, mosquito bites, or bites from infected animals.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
Coronavirus causes pneumonia, and other symptoms as well. These symptoms can include headache, fever, dizziness, sore throats, runny noses, and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, COVID-19 can cause organ failure. As for its mortality rating, it’s not yet known. Right now the estimate is thought to be around three and a half percent. You can breathe easy, though, because that’s likely an overestimated number. The number of people infected who only experience mild symptoms is probably much higher which would lower that rate.
That’s not to say that the coronavirus isn’t more deadly than the regular flu, which has an even lower mortality rate. But it is worth noting that as data comes in, the mortality rate is likely to drop. Those who don’t make it, as sad as it is for them, are usually in poor health already.
Ways to stop the spread of Coronavirus
To start with, you are very unlikely to catch this disease. Honestly. Most people that don’t live in big cities won’t. BUT, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to stop it’s spread or keep safe. There are a few basic hygiene tips that you should follow no matter what.
Practice social distancing. Stay six feet away from anyone you can when you can. The virus isn’t airborne, but it is droplet borne. All it takes is a sneeze or cough, or even a few words, to spread from an infected person to you.
Wash your hands. Wash your hands. I’ll repeat it one more time. WASH YOUR HANDS! Do it early, do it often. At least twenty seconds with soap under hot water. I know that people are all rushing for hand sanitizer, but it doesn’t work half as well as soap and hot water. With that said…
Hand sanitizer. If push comes to shove and a sink isn’t nearby, and you have to eat or scratch your face, use some. Just remember to WASH YOUR HANDS INSTEAD IF YOU CAN!
Cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze. Do it into a tissue if you can and throw that away after, or your elbow if push comes to shove. Never into your hands.
Diseases that ARE mosquito spread (Unlike Coronavirus)
Now, with all of the above said, the simple fact is that the disease is not mosquito-borne. So you don’t have to worry about them biting you and give you the coronavirus. But at the end of the day, there’s still plenty of diseases that the mosquitoes spread that you very much should worry about. We’ll talk about a few of them here.
Zika
How time flies. I remember when just a few years ago THIS was the disease making the headlines. Anyway, most people that catch this virus will only experience mild symptoms. Things like fever, joint pain, and a rash. The real danger, as I’m sure you all remember, is to pregnant women and the fetus. This disease can lead to a birth defect called microcephaly, which causes the baby’s head to be small and causes brain damage.
Dengue
Rare in the U.S., you’ll see Dengue hit people that spend their time in popular tourist areas such as Puerto Rico, the Pacific Islands, and Latin America. Catching Dengue can lead to rash, fever, easy bruising, headaches, and bleeding gums. Sometimes it can lead to hemorrhagic fever, which can be very deadly. There’s only one vaccine approved by the FDA, and that’s only in children age nine to sixteen who have already been infected by one of the four dengue virus strains.
West Nile Virus
A bite from a mosquito carrying this virus will usually not show any symptoms at all, honestly. But, if you’re one of the unlucky flu– I mean, few, you may experience some. These can include fever, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or a rash. There can also be the rare complications, like brain infections and encephalitis or meningitis. There’s no vaccine for this virus either.
Malaria
The hallmark of all mosquito borne diseases I’d say. This is the one that’s been well known since before my time on this earth. But, this disease doesn’t happen often in the U.S. Nearly half of the world has to live with the threat of this dangling over their head, though. The symptoms include fever, headache, chills, and vomiting. If you travel to a country like Africa, South America, or Asia, be sure to sleep with a mosquito net. One that’s treated with insecticide preferably. Also, make sure to take advantage of anti-malaria drugs.
Yellow Fever
This disease gets its name from it’s most obvious symptom, jaundice (also known as when your eyes and skin turn dull yellow). Less serious infections will give you some pretty nasty symptoms anyway, like headaches, backaches, chills, and vomiting. There’s a vaccine for this one, so be sure to take it if you go travel to any area with large mosquito populations, including Africa and Latin America.
Chikungunya
I know the name is a mouthful, but it comes from an African language and refers to the stooped appearance caused by the extreme joint pain that follows this disease. You also tend to get a rash, headaches, nausea, and fatigue. This disease can be found in Asia and India, but it’s already moved over into Europe and the Americas. There’s no cure, and symptoms can last for years. Sounds just as bad as the coronavirus, if you ask me!
La Crosse Encephalitis
This is a pretty rare one out of all of them on the list, thankfully. Only about sixty-five cases each year in the good ol’ U S of A. Mosquitoes that carry this one are usually the day biters and are active from spring through early in the fall. They live in the woods around the upper Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and the Southeast. If you get sick with this, you may get nervous system damage in severe cases. But otherwise, you’ll likely get a fever, nausea, and a headache. Many people who get it are asymptomatic though.
Rift Valley Fever
Now, this is one most of you probably haven’t heard of. Infected mosquitoes can spread this to both people AND animals. It’s named from the area in Kenya where it was discovered and is common throughout Africa and the Middle East. This can cause permanent eye damage, but it’ll mostly cause you to feel dizzy and weak.
Jamestown Canyon Virus
Doctor’s noticed this disease for the first time in the eighteen hundreds. It’s named, once again, for the area near where it was found; Boulder, CO. If you catch this, it gives very flu-like symptoms, such as a fever and a headache. More serious problems can include inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. There are more than a few species that carry this disease, though there are less than fifty cases reported each year throughout the U.S.
Snowshoe Hare Virus
This is the most adorably named disease on the list, at least. It’s named such because it was first found in the blood of the very same animal. The first person to catch this disease was in the 1970s in Canada, but it has since moved into the U.S. It can cause vomiting, a rash, and in more severe cases, inflammation of the brain.
Common Mosquitoes of Florida
And today, we’ll finish off our all-encompassing coronavirus/mosquito talk with a few examples of the species you’ll find down in the Sunshine State. Unfortunately, there’s quite a few more than just a few decades ago, since rising temperatures have made the state even more tropical year-round. Not only that but as a popular trading post, we get shipments from all over the world in through the panhandle. That makes it very easy for non-native species of mosquito to enter into our neck of the woods. So we’ll talk about two of those very non-native mosquitoes you’re likely to find buzzing around your own backyard.
Asian Tiger Mosquitoes
Asian tiger mosquitoes are black with silvery white markings. The best way to identify this species is by the single median silver-white stripe from its head down the center of its back, as well as its striped black and white legs. As with all mosquito species, the antennae of the males in comparison to females are noticeably bushier and contains auditory receptors to detect the characteristic buzz of the female.
Aedes aegypti
The Aedes aegypti mosquito bites at any time during the day or night. It is found in and around homes, schools, workplaces and other places where people gather. One infected Aedes aegypti mosquito is able to infect several persons. The mosquito breeds in any container where water is allowed to settle. The most common breeding sites are drums, tires, flowerpots, and containers in and around homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes produce, on average, 100 to 200 eggs per batch. Laid eggs can survive for very long periods in a dry state, often for more than a year. The lifespan of the adult mosquito is two weeks to a month.
Coronavirus and Mosquitoes: Conclusion
Well, there you have it. The virus isn’t spread by mosquito bites. At least, as far as we know anyway. This virus is so new and spreads so fast that it’s hard to speak with any certainty about it. But that doesn’t mean a mosquito infestation should go unheeded just because it’s no longer a flavor of the month disaster. If you believe you have an infestation of mosquitoes, please be sure to contact an expert. Especially look for pest control agencies that use natural methods, as chemical pesticides are well-known dangers to your health and the environment.
As for a quick rundown of what a mosquito infestation looks like, it’s actually pretty simple. Signs of mosquito activity include the buzzing of the females and the presence of their bites on the skin, which people have various reactions to, ranging from mild irritation to intense inflammation and swelling. Another telltale sign of a mosquito problem would be the presence of immature mosquitoes in standing water. A lot of these infestation areas can be avoided with simple steps such as keeping your yard free of debris, removing standing water, and keeping it well-trimmed. But don’t forget, once an infestation has established itself, you will not likely be able to remove it on your own.
