Mosquitoes can carry and transmit a variety of diseases caused by viruses, parasites, and bacteria. The most common mosquito-borne diseases include:

• Malaria : Caused by parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. It leads to symptoms like fever, headache, and chills and can be fatal. There are over 247 million cases annually worldwide

• Dengue fever : A viral infection spread mainly by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, causing high fever, headache, vomiting, joint pain, and rash. Severe dengue can cause internal bleeding and death, with about 390 million infections yearly

• Zika virus : Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, often causing mild symptoms like fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and joint pain. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause birth defects such as microcephaly

• Yellow fever : A viral hemorrhagic disease spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, with symptoms including fever, chills, headache, and jaundice. It causes approximately 30,000 deaths annually

• Chikungunya : A viral disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, characterized by sudden fever, joint and muscle pain, rash, and fatigue. Joint pain may persist for months or years

• West Nile virus : Spread by various mosquito species, it can cause fever, encephalitis, or meningitis in severe cases

• Japanese encephalitis : A viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, causing inflammation of the brain, mainly found in Asia

• Other encephalitic diseases : Including Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and Ross River virus, which can cause neurological symptoms and severe illness

• Filariasis (Elephantiasis) : Caused by parasitic worms transmitted by mosquitoes, leading to severe swelling and skin thickening

• Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis : Mosquito-borne viral diseases found mainly in Australia

These diseases vary in severity, symptoms, and geographic distribution. Prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites through protective clothing, insect repellents, bed nets, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed. Vaccines are available for some, such as yellow fever, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis