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20th August is a day observed globally as World Mosquito Day to reflect and spread awareness on this pesky yet deadly creature. This tiny winged creature has annoyed humans for ages and has been the transmitter of many diseases causing woe to humankind. On this World Mosquito Day, let us learn more about this creature and the diseases it spreads.
History of Mosquito Day
Mosquitoes are a menace that thrives in warm and humid conditions; they mostly appear during summer and breed in the rainy season.
These tiny blood-sucking pests transmit malaria, a serious, age-old disease that has been affecting people for long now. Mosquitoes are also responsible for the spread of some other diseases like dengue and chikungunya, among others. It is fascinating to know that mosquitoes have been around for over a hundred million years, and mosquito bites have caused millions of deaths. Over 6 million deaths occur every decade due to malaria caused by mosquito bites.
World Mosquito Day is observed to honor the British Army surgeon Sir Ross who in 1897 proved the association of mosquitoes to malaria by recognizing pigmented parasites of malaria in the pest that sucked blood from an infected person. This discovery was groundbreaking in terms of increasing information about the disease and led to the invention of new prevention methods. In 1902, Ross was conferred the Nobel Prize for Medicine/Physiology.
The first World Mosquito Day was declared by Ross to educate people about the connection between malaria and mosquitoes. However, despite the improved knowledge of the disease, its cause, and the various preventive measures and medicines, no vaccine for malaria has been invented so far.
Timeline – World Mosquito Day
Here is the World Day of Mosquito timeline:
1. 1st Century CE:
The disease enters Europe and reaches Rome. It travelled through the river Nile to reach the Caribbean and spread across the North.
2. 79 CE:
Here, the epidemic of Malaria devastated the Roman Empire’s Campagna region and destroyed its population by killing countless people.
3. 1897:
It was in this year that a British doctor linked mosquitoes and malaria
Ronald Ross. He discovered that female mosquitoes are the carriers of malaria parasites, and they do the transmission.
4. 1930s:
In the 1930s, the USA’s Appalachian region was hugely affected by malaria unless the TVA or the Tennessee Valley Authority took charge to limit the spread.
5. 1946:
In 1946, the Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) was formed. This organization was the result of an earlier organization known as Malaria Control in War Areas (MCWA) which was established to focus on monitoring and eradicating malaria.
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How to Celebrate World Mosquito Day?
World Mosquito Day can be celebrated in different ways, as mentioned below:
- By raising funds for anti-malaria drives and aiding various organizations that are working towards curbing the spread of malaria
- The day is also observed by donating money and financially helping organizations, communities, and so on
- During this day, people are educated about the spread of malaria and the steps for prevention
- You can use this day to inform and educate your friends, family, and other people in your surrounding
Some Interesting Mosquitoes Facts
- Mosquitoes are tiny yet deadly insects that can kill more people as compared to other insects/animals in the globe
- Only female mosquitoes bite during a time when they breed or when they are in the process of reproduction. During this time, they need protein from human blood.
- The female and male mosquitoes coordinate their wingbeats with their mating companions
- Mosquitoes are not attracted to light like many other bugs, instead, they are attracted to the CO2 or carbon dioxide smell in the human blood
- Mosquitoes use a sharp proboscis to suck blood. This has stimulated the design of hypodermic needles, which are less painful with improved design
Importance of World Mosquito Day
The Importance of World Mosquito Day can be traced to the following points:
- The day promotes malaria awareness, which is common in most places globally. It educates people on how the disease gets transmitted, the risks involved, and the preventive measures to be taken
- The day is also important because it helps research organizations with the required funds for more development and research on the disease so that a malaria vaccination can be developed soon
- The day also reminds people of the efforts taken by scientists to develop different treatments and calls for people to appreciate their efforts
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To Sum Up
Malaria is a common disease that has affected almost every continent apart from Antarctica. The disease remains a huge concern in different parts of the globe, especially in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean. Every year millions of people contract malaria. Africa suffered the most in 2010, with 90% of the causes of death being diagnosed as malaria.
World Mosquito Day is a way to teach people about the causes of malaria and the preventive measures to help them stay away from malaria.
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FAQs: World Mosquito Day
Why do female Anopheles bite humans?
The female Anopheles bite humans to obtain the blood to nurture their eggs. They infect people with the parasite by biting affected people first and then infecting healthy people with that infected blood.
What time do malaria mosquitoes bite?
The female Anopheles mosquito or the malaria mosquito is usually active between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. They are the only mosquito to transmit malaria, and they bite mostly at sunset and during the night.
Can a single mosquito bite cause malaria?
Yes, even a single bite from an infected mosquito causes malaria.
A mosquito’s lifetime is how many days?
The life of a male mosquito in days is around 6 or 7 on average. They generally feed on plant nectar. Female mosquitoes suck blood and can live up to 5 months. However, the average life of female mosquitoes is over 6 weeks.
What are some dengue mosquito symptoms?
Dengue viruses are spread to people through mosquito bites of infected Aedes species. The symptoms are high fever, severe headache, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and in some severe cases breathing difficulty and bleeding.
What is the theme of World Mosquito Day 2023?
The Theme for World Mosquito Day 2022 was “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives”. The World Mosquito Day 2023 theme is not yet declared.
World Mosquito Day is celebrated on which date?
It is celebrated on 20th August every year.
