Our planet is filled with fearsome creatures. Car-sized hippos have jaws strong enough to shatter bones. Scorpions use piercing tails to inject victims with deadly venom. Pythons strangle their prey with ropelike bodies.
But which animal on Earth is the deadliest to humans? It’s actually none of those creatures. It’s the mosquito!
You might think of these buzzing insects as just an annoying part of spring and summer. In the U.S., their bites are usually no worse than an itchy red bump that fades in a few days or weeks.
However, in many areas of the world, mosquito bites are a serious concern. They commonly spread dangerous diseases, like malaria. Mild malaria cases cause headaches, fevers, and chills. Without treatment, the disease can be deadly. Each year, malaria and other diseases spread by mosquitoes kill more than 750,000 people. Sadly, most of those who die are kids.
Scientists have come up with many ways to protect humans from mosquitoes. But lately, the methods haven’t been working very well. Disease-causing mosquitoes are now thriving in parts of the world they haven’t been found in before.
“In the U.S., mosquitoes are showing up earlier each year and staying longer,” says Russanne Low. She’s a scientist who studies mosquitoes. Low is one of many people working to spread the news about the dangers of mosquitoes—and share ideas for how people can help.
