What are Common Zoonotic Diseases from Insects?

Insects have been on this Earth for well over 300 million years. And since that time, they have evolved from pets of dinosaurs to a broad variety of species that range in size from microscopic (as seen under a microscope) to thousands of times larger than their largest relatives. While some insects are beautiful and harmless, many others are disease carriers. If you or your family spend time outside in the summer months, it’s important to know about common zoonotic diseases from insects so that you can avoid coming into contact with harmful insects.

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What are Common Zoonotic Diseases from Insects?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 60% of infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic.

Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are passed from animals to humans There are many different kinds of zoonotic diseases, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms. One type of zoonotic disease that is becoming more common is called a vector-borne illness these are illnesses that are spread through the bites or stings of insects. These insect-borne illnesses can be very serious and even life-threatening for some people.

Zoonotic diseases are illnesses that can be transmitted to humans from animals, and insects are no exception.

Here’s a list of some common zoonotic illnesses caused by insects:

Chagas Disease

A parasitic disease that can cause heart failure and death if left untreated, Chagas is transmitted by kissing bugs.

Lyme Disease

A bacterial infection caused by ticks, Lyme disease can cause symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and headaches.

Tularemia

This bacterial infection causes fever, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. It’s spread through contact with infected animals or ticks that bite them.

West Nile virus

This disease is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that have bitten birds infected with the virus. It can cause severe illnesses including meningitis and encephalitis. In some cases, people who recover from the West Nile virus may suffer long-term effects such as fatigue, memory problems, or tremors.

Malaria

This disease is transmitted through mosquito bites and infects red blood cells in your body. Symptoms include fever, headaches, and vomiting.

Types of insects that may cause Zoonotic Disease

Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted from animals to humans. These diseases can be carried by insects, and many different types of insects may cause zoonotic disease.

Here are some examples:

Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes transmit several different viruses, including the West Nile Virus, which can cause encephalitis (swelling of the brain).

Fleas: Fleas often carry Rickettsia typhi, which causes typhus in humans.

Ticks: Ticks can transmit Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever to humans.