Insect-borne diseases, often transmitted through the bites of blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes and ticks, pose significant health risks to humans. These diseases are caused by various viral and bacterial pathogens carried by these insects and can lead to a wide range of symptoms. Common symptoms of insect-borne diseases include fever, chills, headache, sore muscles, skin rash, nausea, and stomach pain, some cases can escalate to more severe symptoms. These diseases underscore the importance of preventive measures such as wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, and eliminating breeding sites for these insects to reduce the risk of infection.
Lyme Disease
Caused by the Borrelia bacterium, Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of certain species of ticks. Indications of Lyme disease include a characteristic "bull's-eye" rash, fever, malaise, fatigue, headache, as well as muscle and joint aches.
Alpha-gal Syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome is a food allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals, including many medical products, marshmallows, and more. Growing evidence suggests that Alpha-gal syndrome in the United States is triggered by the bite of a lone star tick and possibly other ticks.
Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is caused by viruses transmitted to people by mosquitoes. It is one of the most common insect-borne infectious diseases, occurring in tropical regions all over the world. The virus is transmitted by day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Malaria
Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by a single-celled organism called Plasmodium. It is transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are found on every continent of the world.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is primarily transmitted to humans, in the United States, through American dog ticks and the Rocky Mountain wood ticks carrying the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. Infection can also occur through contact with the tick's contents during removal.
West Nile Virus
Bites from infected mosquitoes cause most West Nile virus infections in people. It is most commonly found in Africa, West Asia and the Middle East, but has emerged in the United States and Europe in recent years.
Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of certain species of sandflies. Visceral leishmaniasis usually causes fever, weight loss, an enlarged spleen and liver, and occasionally, swollen glands and anemia.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease found only in the forests of South America and the wet savanna areas of West and Central Africa. It is passed between people (and other primates) by mosquitoes.
Zika Virus
Zika virus is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes and gained global attention due to its association with birth defects when pregnant women are infected. Symptoms are usually mild, including fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis, but it can have devastating effects on newborns.