Mosquito-Borne Illnesses: Educate Yourself And Stay Safe

It is important to know how to protect oneself against illnesses, particularly illnesses that are dangerous but not so well-known. Mosquitoes can be more than just a nuisance – their bites can be painful and may lead to serious illnesses. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever can cause a lot of suffering.

At Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn NY, we take health education seriously and keep our clients apprised of the latest health advice. Our trained medical staff, including rehab therapists provide counselling on how best to protect clients against any health issues, including mosquito-borne illnesses.

Close up of mosquitoe. Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

How Can You Protect Yourself From Mosquito-Borne Illnesses?

Although vaccines can prevent some mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fever and dengue, there are no vaccines for them all. Therefore, preventing mosquito bites is the main form of protection against these diseases.

  • Using insect repellent, especially when you go outside, will reduce your chances of getting bitten by a mosquito.
  • Covering up exposed skin is also effective in bite prevention, so it’s best to opt for long-sleeved shirts and pants.
  • Using window and door screens and sleeping under a mosquito net will also protect you from mosquitoes.
  • Mosquitoes are most active around dawn or dusk, so staying protected at these times reduces the risk of getting bitten.

What Is The Most Common Mosquito-Borne Illness?

Worldwide, the most common mosquito-borne illnesses are:

  • Dengue
  • Yellow fever
  • Malaria
  • Zika virus
  • West Nile virus

Dengue is the most common. However, it is a tropical disease and uncommon in the US (although small outbreaks have occurred).

In the US, West Nile virus, malaria and chikungunya are the most common diseases caused by mosquito bites. Although your chances of contracting one of these diseases is low, it’s important to be aware of the dangers.

What Diseases Do Mosquitoes Carry In The US?

Different mosquito-borne illnesses flourish depending on climate, type of mosquito common in the region, and level of medical care.

In the US, West Nile virus is the single most common disease carried and spread by mosquitoes. Although most infected people do not develop symptoms, a small percentage may develop West Nile encephalitis which is potentially deadly.

Mosquitoes in the US may also carry malaria, dengue and chikungunya, all of which are very dangerous. St. Louis encephalitis and La Crosse encephalitis are examples of less common viruses that also affect people in the US.

Fairview Adult Day Care Center’s top priority is the safety and well-being of its clients. Our skilled staff counsel our registrants on disease risks of all kinds, including mosquito-borne illnesses.

We at our Adult Day Care Center create a customized program of one-to-one and group activities that take into account the individual need of each client. 

Our activities are designed to meet our registrants’ interests and abilities. We offer two separate programs  – one for people with TBI and other mental challenges and the other one is for Russian-speaking seniors. We make sure that they feel at home.

This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.