The Most Common Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Mosquitoes are among the most dangerous animals of the world, for the diseases they transmit kill millions every year. In 2015, 438,000 individuals died from malaria alone. The species Aedes aegypti can carry chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika—and over half of the individuals in the world live in the same areas as that mosquito. Mosquito-borne diseases can be prevented, as some have vaccines. Many mosquito species lay their eggs in standing water, so another way to prevent illness is to reduce the number of places where they can lay their eggs. This can mean filling in ruts or removing buckets or tires that collect water.