The Mysterious World of Mosquitoes and Disease

Abstract

If someone were to ask you, “What is the deadliest animal in the world?” you might not think the answer would be an insect smaller than a thumb tack! However, the deadliest animal in the world is in fact the mosquito! While “mosquito” means “little fly” and may sound harmless, mosquitoes can actually transmit devastating diseases to humans, resulting in over 600,000 deaths worldwide every year. This is almost as high as the number of deaths from cancer, the second leading cause of death in the United States. Mosquitoes are found all over the world and, chances are, you have encountered them (and their itchy bites!) yourself. Keep reading to learn more about these creatures, including how they live, the many types of mosquitoes that exist, and the dangerous diseases they can transmit to humans.