Are Women More Prone To Mosquito Bites
Many men bring their chronic Lyme wives to Sponaugle Wellness and upon questioning, suggest that their wife is actually their mosquito repellent. Do mosquitoes prefer sugar to spice? The old nursery rhyme suggests females are true, sweeter than men, is it actually true? If so, and if mosquitoes are a major reservoir for Lyme spirochetes, it might explain why we treat so many women with severe Lyme disease who have never seen a tick.
To make this debate more interesting, I must mention a University of Florida study that suggests mosquitoes are more attracted to the sweet smell of lactic acid. Thus, patients with higher toxicity levels will attract more mosquitoes, it is a known fact that females, in general, suffer far more gut toxicity than men.
Furthermore, we know that females have twice the prevalence of toxin derived Multiple Sclerosis than do men.
The more toxicity one suffers, the more inflammation one suffers, and subsequently, excessive inflammation stimulates an elevation of multiple blood clotting factors . The elevated clotting factors ultimately narrow the capillary lumen and prevent red blood cells from traveling through the microcirculation and thus compromise the delivery of oxygen. This leaves deep tissue in a state of micro-hypoxia or lack of oxygen, thus leaving body tissue in a slight, but chronic anaerobic state. This mild anaerobic state causes excessive production and accumulation of sweet-smelling lactic acid in the body tissue and bloodstream.
Can You Get Lyme Disease From A Mosquito
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What Percentage Of Ticks Carry Lyme Disease
A stroll through the tall grass or a hike in the woods can inadvertently attract some unwanted stowaways ticks! These pesky parasitic insects latch onto a host and feed on blood for sustenance. As known carriers of Lyme disease, ticks can pose significant health hazards to their nonconsenting hosts.
But do all ticks carry Lyme disease? And if not, what percentage of ticks carry Lyme disease? Let the insect experts at Mosquito Joe answer all you want to know about ticks and Lyme disease.
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Are Ticks The Only Culprit Dr Sponaugle Believes Mosquitos Are Also To Blame For Lyme Disease
However, the focus continues to remain too much on tick-borne when in fact, there should be more American research on mosquito-borne diseases. I suggested in 2009, when I took over my daughters medical care for Lyme disease, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, West Nile, Babesia, etc., that mosquitoes are surely carrying Lyme disease. This scientific fact was finally proven in Germany, the study was released by the University of Frankfurt in 2015.
Personally, I have never met a chronic Lyme patient who denied being bitten by a mosquito, yet, I have treated thousands who denied ever seeing a tick.
Can Mosquitoes Spread Covid
Although strains of the Covid-19 virus are still being discovered and researched, so far there is no evidence to suggest that this disease can be transmitted by mosquitoes.
This comes down to the fact that the new coronavirus is a respiratory disease, predominantly contained within the lungs and respiratory tract, and which rarely makes its way to the bloodstream.
Similar to the HIV pathogen, the SARS-CoV2 virus cannot mutate and is destroyed within the digestive system of a vector such as a mosquito or tick.
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Healthbeware Of Chikungunya And West Nile This Summer
We understand that Congress and the administration have many difficult choices to make, he said.
State health departments always need more funding, said John Wiesman, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
Todays report vividly demonstrates that diseases like West Nile Virus, Zika, Lyme, dengue, plague, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and other emerging pathogens carried by mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas, increasingly remain a clear and present danger to the publics health, Wiesman said in a statement.
Community-based vector control services are all-to-often neglected and under resourced,” added Wiesman, who is Washington’s state health director.
Dr. Paul Auwaerter, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, urged Congress to increase funding “for surveillance and prevention of vector-borne diseases, including resources to support research on the most effective methods for preventing tick-borne infections.”
We are also investigating how climate change may impact the spread of vector-borne diseases so that we can take appropriate actions to protect public health,” he said. “We also advocate for federal investments in the research and development of new vaccines to prevent Zika, Lyme disease, and other serious vector-borne diseases.
CDC’s advice for staying safe:
What Are The Symptoms
Many body systems can be affected by Lyme disease. Symptoms vary from person to person and can come and go. Symptoms are generally classified into early or late. Early symptoms occur days to weeks after a person becomes infected. Early symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, joint pain, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, chills, fever, or swollen lymph nodes
- Paralyzed muscles of the face
- Palpitations or disturbances of heart rhythm
- An expanding rash called erythema migrans, or EM. The EM appears 1-30 days after the bite of an infected tick, expands over a one to two week period, and then disappears. More EMs, not necessarily at the site of the tick bite, can show up later. The EM is usually painless. The EM varies in shape and appearance. On dark skin the EM can look more like a bruise. The EM is not present in some people, or it may occur on a part of the body that is difficult to see
Painful redness that occurs less than 24 hours after a tick bite and does not expand is more likely to be a local allergic reaction to the tick’s saliva. These symptoms can disappear without treatment but the infection may still be present. If early Lyme disease symptoms are not recognized and treated adequately, the disease may progress and be more difficult to treat.
Late symptoms occur weeks, months, or years after becoming infected. Late symptoms may be the first sign of Lyme disease in some people. Late symptoms include:
Diagnosis and Treatment
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Be Tick And Mosquito Smart
While not all ticks and mosquitos carry disease, the Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark District Health Unit would like to provide the public with extra safety tips to ensure they remove any ticks that may hitch a ride during a hike.
These tips will help residents enjoy the outdoors this summer by going for a hike, working in the garden, or cleaning up the yard while being tick and mosquito safe.
Ticks
While not all ticks in the area carry diseases, a significant number of them do. You cannot tell just by looking at a tick if it is carrying bacteria such as Lyme disease. These illnesses can cause serious health effects, so it is important to take the following precautions.
- Do a complete tick check of your entire body when you return from the outdoors and have someone check the back side of you.
- Insect repellents containing DEET or Icaridin can be sprayed on clothing or skin to repel ticks
- Stay on the groomed part of trails where is there no vegetation for ticks to hide on
- A quick shower may help wash away ticks that have not yet attached
- Outdoor wear can be placed in the dryer for a few minutes to kill ticks
- Speak to your vet about ways to protect your pets
- If a tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours, seek medical attention immediately
Mosquitos
Mosquitoes can also carry viruses that can cause illness, such as West Nile Virus. For most people, the risks of illness from mosquito-borne viruses are low yet, the viruses can cause serious illness in some people.
Lyme Disease And Mosquitoes
People knew about Lyme disease around 1977 for the first time. They found that many people, mostly children, in the area of Lyme, Connecticut, have the same cases like arthritis. A research done to know what was it actually. The result showed that this disease caused by certain bacteria. These bacteria are actually come from animal as its nature. It could affect human because it transmitted through tick bites.
However, many result show that, nowadays there are much more way for this bacteria to get into the human body. The cause of this transmission could be by the bite of insects that suck human blood. Some insect with scientific support through research that believed to have the ability are mosquitoes, mites, flies as well as fleas. Another study showed that a direct contact with bodily fluids, such as urine, from the infected person could transmit the Lyme disease to the health person as well. A transmission because of blood, tissue or even organ donation also has a very high possibility.
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What Diseases Do Mosquitoes Carry
With Summer getting into full swing in North America, the concern around the spread of Mosquito-borne and transmitted diseases is on the minds of anyone looking forward to a summer camping trip or evening barbeque.
Mosquitoes are vectors for a number of diseases including Malaria, EEE virus, Dengue fever, Zika and West Nile Virus, but there are a number of steps that you can take to minimize and even eliminate the risk of being infected with these diseases by these pests.
In this article, we are going to discuss how Mosquitoes transmit diseases, answer the question What diseases do Mosquitoes carry? and find out what we can do to prevent mosquitoes from ruining much-anticipated Summer plans.
Risk Of Disease From Mosquito And Tick Bites
The links above are to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Search the CDC website for information on any other insect-borne diseases that you may have heard about.
- EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Partners:
- Lyme Disease Association – Offers information about this non profit organization whose goals are education, prevention, and research funding. Includes articles on ticks, vaccines, and other useful information.
- American Mosquito Control Association – Organization enhancing the health and quality of life through the suppression of mosquitoes, other vectors and pests of public importance.
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Can You Get Lyme Disease From Mosquitoes
For most folks, the itchy bites that mosquitoes inflict on us are reason enough to want them gone. But, once you start thinking about the diseases these pests can spread, you may want to know the quickest ways you can get rid of these pests. Unfortunately, the CDC reports that illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites have tripled in the United States. From 2004 to 2016, there were more than 640,000 reported cases of illnesses transmitted from these pests.
Recently, it has become pretty well known that mosquitoes can spread the Zika virus. Therefore, its natural to wonder if they can also spread Lyme disease or other diseases.
There is good news for those worried about Lyme disease. According to the CDC, Lyme disease cannot be spread by mosquitoes. It can only be spread through the bite of infected ticks. Adult ticks are about the size of a sesame seed, and they often latch on to our bodies in hard-to-see places like our armpits.
Although mosquitoes cant spread Lyme disease to humans or pets, these pests can still transmit other diseases, including:
- West Nile virus,
- dengue and
- malaria.
What Is Zika Virus
Zika virus is primarily transmitted through infected mosquitos however, sexual transmission has been described. It is a mosquito-transmitted infection related to dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and West Nile virus and is common in Africa and Asia. It did not begin spreading widely in the Western Hemisphere until May 2015, when an outbreak occurred in Brazil.
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Is Protection Available Against Zika
There is no vaccine to prevent the Zika virus or medicine to treat the infection. If you must travel to an affected region, you should protect yourself against mosquito bites. The type of mosquito that transmits the Zika virus is most likely to bite in the daytime. Wear long sleeves and pants while outdoors and use an insect repellent that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, such as one containing DEET.
Zika outbreaks have been reported in Mexico Central America South America in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, Aruba, Bonaire, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Cape Verde, off the coast of Africa the Pacific Islands of American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga and parts of Florida. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Zika web site.
Zika Lyme Drive Big Increase In Bug
More and more Americans are being infected with diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes, federal researchers reported Tuesday.
More than 640,000 Americans were infected by so-called vector-borne diseases between 2004 and 2016, and nine new diseases, from Bourbon virus to Zika, have shown up, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
In 2004, just 27,388 cases of these diseases were reported. In 2016, more than 96,000 were. These numbers are almost certainly an underestimate, the CDC added.
Most of the increase comes from the arrival of the Zika virus in 2015 and from ticks. Longer, hotter summers are not helping, said Dr. Lyle Petersen of the CDCs National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.
The number of reported vector-borne disease cases has tripled over the last 13 years, Petersen told reporters in a telephone briefing. This includes a doubling of diseases transmitted by ticks, which in turn accounted for 60 percent of all vector-borne diseases, he said.
West Nile virus is the most common infection spread by mosquitoes in the U.S. It was introduced in New York in 1999 and has since spread across the continent, causing annual epidemics, Petersen said. Zika, which showed up in 2015 as part of its flash spread across the Americas, is now a permanent resident of Puerto Rico and causes sporadic outbreaks in Texas and Florida.
Other home-grown bacteria and viruses also live in ticks, mosquitoes and fleas.
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Stay Informed About Your Health
The Mount Sinai Health System is committed to providing accurate, scientific information about insect- and tick-borne illnesses. The health and safety of our patients, their families, and our employees are of utmost importance, and we are actively monitoring evolving circumstances surrounding new threats, such as the Zika virus. The information on this page is intended as a resource for patients, community physicians, and other health care partners.
Insects such as mosquitos and ticks can transmit a variety of diseases. Here are some diseases that you can contract through a tick bite:
- Lyme disease
Some of the diseases that mosquitoes carry include:
- West Nile virus
- Malaria
About Ticks And Lyme Disease
Ticks are small crawling bugs in the spider family. They are arachnids, not insects. There are hundreds of different kinds of ticks in the world. Many of them carry bacteria, viruses or other pathogens that cause disease in humans and/or animals.
In the midwestern and eastern United States, Ixodes scapularis or deer tick is the primary vector of Lyme disease. On the West Coast, the spirochete is carried by Ixodes pacificus or western black-legged tick. In the South, lone star ticks can also transmit Lyme disease or a closely related illness.
Ticks have four life stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. In each stage after hatching, they suck blood from animals like mice, squirrels, birds and deer. Then they drop off, enter a dormant period and molt to enter the next stage.
Ticks dont start out being infected with Lyme. They get it by feeding on an infected animal, often a mouse or other small rodent. Then, they pass it along to the next animal or person they bite.
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How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes In Your Yard For A Party
When the weather is nice, theres nothing better than having a relaxed party in your backyard. Many families love the casual nature of a yard party. Unfortunately, mosquitoes can ruin the party if your guests become the dinner for these little insects.
There are steps that homeowners can take to reduce the number of mosquitoes in their yard for an upcoming party. However, planning ahead of time is crucial. The most effective way to get rid of mosquitoes often takes weeks to execute. Unfortunately, reducing the population of mosquitoes in your yard isnt a quick process.
Addressing any standing water on your property is the first step for homeowners to take. Many people dont realize how little water mosquitoes need to survive. Any water in outside pet water bowls, flowerpot saucers, pool covers or birdbaths are more than enough for mosquitoes to start laying eggs.
Other standing water sources that we often forget about include:
- vases,
- trash cans and
- rain barrels.
If you notice any small, thin, light-brown or whitish larvae in standing water that are about a quarter-inch long, these are likely live mosquito larvae. Ones that have already hatched from eggs tend to hang out at the surface of the water. They may also twitch in a repetitive motion.
Ultimately, the best way to reduce mosquito populations before a party is to contact a mosquito control specialist. This specialist can use a combination of strategies to eliminate adult mosquitoes and mosquito larvae.
Can Lyme Disease Be Transmitted To Humans By Mosquitoes Horse Flies And Deer Flies
Although Borrelia burgdorferi-like organisms have been observed in mosquitoes, horse flies, and deer flies in areas where Lyme disease is endemic, these organisms have not been cultured to verify their identity. Experiments attempting to transmit B. burgdorferi from infected to uninfected laboratory animals by mosquitoes have not been successful . Furthermore, epidemiological studies have shown that the date of onset for Lyme disease occurs in June, coincident with the peak abundance of nymphal Ixodes scapularis ticks, and not during August when mosquitoes and other biting files are at peak abundance . Despite findings of B. burgdorferi in other tick species such as the American dog tick and the lone star tick in the field, laboratory transmission studies have confirmed that these tick species cannot transmit the infection to laboratory animals thus, they are not competent vectors for Lyme disease . Both experimental and epidemiological studies have shown that Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus are the only tick species in North America that are capable of transmitting B. burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, to humans. Please consult the Lyme Disease Risk Assessment Map on the home page of the ALDF website for specific information on the incidence of Ixodes ticks as well as the numbers of reported cases of Lyme disease for individual States.
References:
1. Magnarelli, LA, and Anderson, JF. J. Clin. Microbiol. 26: 1482-1486, 1988.
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