Diseases transmitted by Mosquitoes

The Anopheles mosquito transmits the protozoan called Plasmodium that causes malaria and the
Andes mosquito transmits the viruses that cause yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya.

 Symptoms of malaria include recurrent attacks of suddenly feeling cold and shivering
followed by a high fever and sweating that lasts for several hours. Periodic attacks of
high fever and weakness can continue for years. Malaria can be fatal.
 Symptoms of yellow fever include a fever, headache, aching muscles, especially back
muscles, nausea and vomiting. The toxic phase occurring in some people causes
yellowing in the skin and eyes, bleeding from the nose, mouth, eyes and internally, can
be fatal.
 Symptoms of dengue include a high fever lasting several days, severe headaches, pain
behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and a skin rash.
Hemorrhagic dengue can cause bleeding from the nose, gums, beneath the skin and
internally, and can be fatal.
 Symptoms of chikungunya are similar to those of dengue with joint pain, which can last
for months particularly affecting wrists, hands, ankles and feet.

The Control of Mosquitoes

The control of vectors is of the utmost importance to control diseases spread by them. To control
any vector its life cycle must be understood to work out at which stage or stages control would
be the easiest and most effective.

Mosquito larvae and pupae can be controlled by:

 Draining all areas of standing water

 Adding insecticides to breeding areas to kill the larvae and pupae
 Including fish such as Tilapia into breeding areas to feed on the larvae and pupae i.e.
biological control
 Spraying oil, kerosene or non-toxic lecithin’s onto still water breeding areas to
preventing the larvae and pupae from breathing

 Adult mosquitoes can be controlled by:

 Removing dense vegetation to reduce protection for adults during daylight hours
 Spraying with insecticides to kill the adults

Treatment and Control of Disease

The aim of treating a disease is to relieve the symptoms experienced by persons suffering from
the disease and cure the disease if possible. The aim of controlling a disease is to prevent
further development and spread of the disease so that the incidence of the disease in
population is gradually reduced. Treating a disease is always one method to control it. The
ultimate goal of treating and controlling any disease is to totally eradicate it from the human
population.
TYPE OF DISEASE TREATMENT METHOD
Pathogenic diseases Drugs to relive symptoms, e.g. aspirin to
reduce fever and pain killers to reduce pain
Drugs creams and ointments to kill the
pathogens:
 Antibiotics to kill bacteria
 Antiviral agents to kill viruses
 Antifungal agents to kill fungi
Injections of readymade antibiotics to destroy
pathogens e.g. antibodies against tetanus are
used for a tetanus prone wound.
Deficiency Disease A diet containing foods rich in the missing
nutrients or foods fortified with the missing
nutrient.
Dietary supplements containing the missing
nutrient.
Hereditary Disease Drugs do not relieve symptoms as they
develop.
No cure currently exists for any hereditary
disease.
Physiological Disease Drugs to relieve symptoms as they develop.
Other treatments specific to the disease.

TYPE OF DISEASE CONTROL METHODS

Pathogenic Diseases Quarantine (isolate) and treat contagious
individuals
Set up immunization programmers and ensure
all individuals in populations are vaccinated
Eradicate vectors of disease
Improve sanitation and sewage treatment
Ensure drinking water is properly treated
Set up public health education programs and
improve public health
Practice good personal hygiene and food
preparation techniques
Use condoms during sexual intercourse to
control STIs
Deficiency Diseases Improve nutrition within populations
Set up public health education programs that
focus on nutrition
Hereditary Diseases Avoid situations that worsen symptoms
Genetic counseling to predict the likelihood
that offspring will develop the disease
Physiological Diseases Adopt a lifestyle that reduces exposure to risk
factors
 Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of
roughage, fresh fruit and vegetables
Reduce obesity
Take regular moderate exercise to maintain
fitness
Attend regular checkups with a doctor

Social, environmental and economic implications of disease

Disease within human population can cause loss of earnings as persons with the disease are
unable to work. Business then become less productive due to a reduction in hours of labor, and
this leads to a reduced economy. Demands on health services increase as more people have to
seek treatment. Ultimately, human resources are lost and standards of living are reduced.
Disease within livestock and agricultural crops results in deceased or lost food production, loss
of income for the farmer and a reduced economy especially if the produce was for export. It also
leads to decreased food availability, increased food prices on the local market and reduced
standards of living of those livelihoods depend on agriculture.