What disease-causing microorganisms can mosquitoes transmit?
Entomology Arboviruses (short for arthropod-borne viruses) such as the West Nile virus, western equine encephalitis virus, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus are perhaps the most important microorganisms that mosquitoes transmit in the United States. In other parts of the world, mosquitoes are carriers of parasites that cause human malaria, filariasis, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, and others. The West Nile virus is a disease that primarily affects birds. It may be transmitted by mosquitoes from infected birds to other hosts such as humans or horses. The West Nile virus has not been shown to be transmitted from human to human, horses to humans, or horses to horses. Thus, the West Nile virus is carried by various species of birds and spread by mosquitoes.
