Mosquitoes in Belarus may be more dangerous than they seem
Scientists have found that mosquitoes in our cities can carry at least two new diseases.
Photo: Nuzree / Pixabay
West Nile Fever is a viral disease that can manifest as severe flu. For a healthy person, it is usually a mild cold, but for the elderly and weakened, it can be dangerous.
It is rare: approximately 1 mosquito in 1000 (0.1%), writes the Telegram channel "Wild nature nearby".
Dirofilariasis is caused by parasitic worms that bite mainly animals (dogs, cats, foxes, ferrets), but sometimes humans. Every 70th mosquito (1.4%) is a carrier.
Between 3 and 20 cases of this disease are registered among Belarusians annually.
The carriers are mosquitoes from the genera Aedes and Coquillettidia — the same common mosquitoes that bite us in parks and yards.
What to do? Don't panic. Use repellents, mosquito nets.