West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the United States. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), La Crosse encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis also occur, though less frequently. Heartworm disease in dogs is another significant mosquito-transmitted illness.
If you’ve heard about mosquito-borne disease, it might have you worried. And that’s fair because if you read a list of the symptoms associated with these diseases, it’s pretty alarming. The headlines can be scary, and sorting out real risk from noise is not always easy.
West Nile virus accounts for the vast majority of mosquito-borne illness in the U.S. Most people who contract it don't develop symptoms. About 20% experience fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue. In less than 1% of cases, serious neurological illness occurs, but those cases can be severe and sometimes fatal. The virus is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which are common throughout Virginia and are most active at dusk and dawn.
Eastern equine encephalitis is much rarer but far more dangerous. The fatality rate is about 30%, and those who survive often deal with long-term neurological complications. It occurs mostly in the Eastern U.S. and is most common in areas near freshwater swamps. It’s rare, but it does happen. There is also La Crosse encephalitis, which primarily affects children in the Eastern and Midwestern states, as well as St. Louis encephalitis, which is more common in the South.
Dengue, Zika, and chikungunya are primarily associated with international travel. Every once in a while, it will happen in Florida and Texas, but it’s rare in Virginia. However, the invasive Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit these diseases have been expanding their range northward.
For pets, heartworm disease is the most significant mosquito-transmitted threat. Mosquitoes carry heartworm larvae from infected animals to new hosts. If not prevented, it can be fatal to dogs. So monthly preventative medication is the standard veterinary recommendation here.
If you are a Hampton Roads homeowner and you want to lower your family's exposure to mosquito-borne illness, Mosquito Squad of Hampton Roads can help. This can be done with barrier treatments that help reduce mosquito populations by up to 85-90%. Treatments target the areas where mosquitoes rest and breed on your property, with applications every 21 days throughout the active season.
