No one wants insects flying and buzzing and biting around their property. If you notice any bugs causing trouble around your home, you should hire an exterminator right away and address any pest control issues. Not only will you prevent property damage and annoying mosquito bites, but you may even protect your family from dangerous, mosquito-borne diseases.
Keep in mind that according to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to work with an insect control service ranges between $109 and $284 depending on the severity of the issue. Even so, controlling mosquitoes on your property is well worth it, especially in terms of protecting you and your family from contracting any serious diseases. There are dozens of diseases that these airborne insects can transmit via the bloodstream. While many of these diseases are extremely rare here in the United States, it's still important to know what kinds of diseases are spread by mosquitoes.
Here are some of the most deadly diseases transmitted by mosquitoes:
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- The Zika Virus -- This virus is typically transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is an aggressive insect that bites people during the day. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine, cure, or even treatment for this disease if infected, and global travelers are being urged to be extremely cautious while traveling to areas with a history of infections. Because Zika causes birth defects, women who may become pregnant must constantly protect their skin from bites in affected areas, which includes parts of Florida and the southern United States.
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- Dengue Fever -- This disease is also spread by Aedes bugs and is transmitted about a week after the mosquito bites an infected person. Someone with the Dengue fever will have a high fever, severe headache, back and joint pain, and bleeding. Rest, fluids, acetaminophen, and even hospitalization are recommended for combatting this fever. Fortunately, only about 20,000 cases of this disease occur in the United States each year.
- Malaria -- There are currently 3.2 billion people (half the world's population) living in areas that are at risk of malaria transmission, a region which includes 106 countries and territories. According to the World Health Organization, malaria caused 445,000 deaths in 2016 alone. Female Anopheles can carry this disease after picking up parasites that have fed on infected humans. This disease does not currently affect the United States, but it remains one of the most deadly health problems facing the world at large.
It's true that most mosquitos across the United States don't carry these dangerous and life-threatening diseases, but it's still important to understand the risk associated with a mosquito bite. You never know what is being carried by any bloodsucking insect -- so you should seek immediate medical attention if you were bitten by anything that feeds on your blood.
If you need to hire a professional Tallahassee insect control exterminator to address an insect issues on your property, contact Dixon Pest Services today.