The Dangers of Mosquitoes: Why Mosquito Control Is Vital for Your Health

After a day spent outside and with family and friends, you come inside and realize you have a small, itchy bump on your leg. You think nothing of it—you accept you were bitten by a mosquito and move on. While in most cases nothing will come of a mosquito bite, mosquitoes are far from harmless pests. Today, we’ll explain why mosquitoes can be a hazard to your family’s health and why mosquito control is so important. 

The Dangerous Effects of Mosquitoes

If you’ve ever been bitten by a mosquito, you are familiar with the itchy, sometimes painful bite that follows. But after a few days, the bite goes away, so nothing to worry about, right? But did you know that a mosquito bite is an immune response—akin to a mild allergic reaction? Some people can develop a more severe reaction. Skeeter syndrome, a syndrome that occurs in reaction to mosquito saliva, can cause painful blisters, swelling, and even fevers. While rare, some people can also experience anaphylactic shock if they have a severe allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. 

Beyond just the initial reaction, mosquito bites may have more lasting effects, which we will cover in more detail below. 

Diseases Carried by Mosquitoes 

One of the biggest dangers mosquitoes pose is the diseases they can spread. Mosquitoes carry several dangerous diseases—even in our state of North Carolina. A few of these diseases include: 

• West Nile Virus
• La Crosse Encephalitis
• Zika Virus 
• Malaria
• Yellow Fever
• Dengue Fever

Some areas are more at risk for these mosquito-borne illnesses than others; however, cases of West Nile Virus and La Crosse Encephalitis have been found in North Carolina. If you plan on traveling to more humid, tropical areas, look up what mosquito-borne illnesses are common in your destination, and talk to your doctor about what prevention strategies you should take. 

Mosquitoes Can Harm Your Pets

While the effects of mosquitoes on humans are significant, your pets may also suffer from mosquito bites. There are two main diseases mosquitoes can spread to your animals: Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and heartworm. 

While Eastern equine encephalitis is fairly harmless to humans, cats, and dogs, it is fatal to horses more than 80% of the time—making it a massive concern for horse owners in North Carolina. 

On the other hand, heartworm is a major risk factor for dogs and cats, and while they’re not the most common carriers, mosquitoes can spread heartworm. 

Keep your animals safe from mosquito-borne diseases by keeping them up-to-date on vaccinations and preventative medicine. Investing in mosquito control for your yard can also keep your pets safe from their dangerous bites.

Are Mosquitoes Deadly?

Unless you have a severe allergy to mosquitoes, mosquitoes themselves are not deadly. However, many of the diseases we listed are, especially if they are not treated quickly. In the United States, fatal symptoms from mosquito-borne illnesses are rare since we have access to readily available treatment; however, young children, senior adults, and people who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk of more severe, and even deadly, symptoms from these illnesses. 

How to Prevent Mosquitoes 

The best way to avoid the dangers of mosquitoes is by not being bitten in the first place. There are several ways you can help reduce, or even eliminate, the number of mosquitoes in your yard and home: 

• Remove standing water: The mosquito lifecycle requires still, standing water in order for the eggs to grow and mature. Getting rid of these water sources will significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard. If you have a pool, pond, or birdbath, you’ll want to keep these water sources clean. We’d also recommend getting a water filter to keep the water moving to deter mosquitoes. 
• Wear insect repellent: If you’ll be outside for a long time, especially if you’ll be around standing water and/or during the peaks of mosquito activity, insect repellent can help prevent bites. You’ll want to look for repellents that are approved by the EPA as they’ll be the most effective. 
• Get professional treatment: Whether you’re trying to protect your home or your business, professional pest control services for mosquitoes are the best way to reduce their numbers. Pest control technicians will be able to specifically target mosquito hotspots and use proven treatments that eliminate eggs, larvae, and adults. Since mosquitoes are seasonal pests, we recommend getting recurring pest control to keep your loved ones safe all year long.

Keep Your Family Safe with Clint Miller’s Mosquito Control Services

We know the health and well-being of your family is what matters most to you. Our team is here to help you keep you, your family, and even your pets safe from the effects of mosquitoes with our professional mosquito control in Charlotte, NC, and surrounding counties. We’ve been passionately serving our local community and defending against dangerous pests like mosquitoes for over 40 years. Protect your family from mosquitoes, and get a free quote for our mosquito services today.