Why are mosquito bites a concern?
Mosquitoes are an important vector in the transmission of diseases such as Malaria, West Nile Virus, Yellow Fever, and Dengue Fever. Getting these diseases from a mosquito bite will depend on the geographic prevalence of the disease and the species of mosquitoes in that area. During a mosquito bite, mosquito saliva is injected into the bite as a local anesthetic and anti-coagulant. The female mosquito then proceeds to feed on the host blood. This exchange of mosquito saliva and blood is an excellent opportunity for pathogens to spread from mosquitoes to humans, and from humans to humans using mosquitoes as an intermediate.
