Introduction – World Mosquito Day is celebrated annually on August 20 to spread awareness about the severe diseases that are spread by mosquitoes among common people across the world. The main aim of this international day is to share details about mosquitoes-related diseases such as chikungunya, zika, dengue, malaria, and many more and how to prevent to reduce the risk of these severe diseases across the world. This International Day provides an opportunity to share about the precautions to reduce or prevent the risk of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide.

History – World Mosquito Day is observed every year on August 20 worldwide to honor the work of British Medical Doctor, Sir Ronald Ross who discovered the malaria parasite in the stomach tissue of an Anopheles mosquito on August 20 in the year 1897 that is the first evidence or proof that mosquitoes transmit malaria from person to person. In the year 1902, Sir Ronald Ross received the prestigious award Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology for his discovery of the transmission of malaria in human beings. It is important to note that malaria is caused by the biting of mosquitoes which is preventable and treatable but it still threatens the lives of millions of people across the world.

Significance – Several severe diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and many more are spread by mosquitoes that are threats to human beings across the world. The main aim of this international day is to emphasize the efforts of doctors and healthcare officials to prevent or treat malaria across the world. You can follow several precautions to reduce the number of mosquitoes such as keeping the drain clean, not retaining water, cleaning your house, and many more that are beneficial in lowering the risk of mosquito-related diseases in your society.

Types of mosquitoes – There are different types of mosquitoes, which acts as vectors for several diseases are discussed below –

• Anopheles – This type of mosquito cause lymphatic filariasis and malaria.
• Aedes mosquitoes – This type of mosquito causes dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue, zika, and lymphatic filariasis.
• Culex – This type of mosquito causes West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis, and lymphatic filariasis.

Important facts about several Mosquito Types – There are different Mosquito Genera are as discussed below –

• Female Anopheles breed in rainwater pools, borrow pits, wells, river bed pools, irrigation channels, wells, seepages, and many more with a small quantity of water. This type of mosquito may cause malaria that mostly bites from evening to dawn.
• Female Aedes aegypti bites frequently in the day and causes zika, dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya. The peak biting periods of this mosquito is in the early morning and right before evening. This type of mosquitoes breeds in any type of storage container with a little quantity of water. The eggs of this type of mosquito can live without water for more than one year.
• There are only female mosquitoes that depend on blood for existence whereas male mosquitoes feed on the nectar of flowers or other suitable sugar sources.

Prevention of diseases – You should follow the proper control measures that may be started in an early stage and if detected then take some steps to eliminate mosquitoes by emptying cooler containers, water bowls, and many more in one week. To prevent mosquitoes, you should cover all water containers that help in preventing mosquitoes at home. You must remove items that are responsible to collect rainwater on the roof. You can also check drainage system that may be born large number of mosquitoes and causes several diseases.