Who is Aedes aegypti? Meet the mosquito that transmits 3 serious diseases

A mosquito has bothered a lot of people in Brazil. It is Aedes aegypti, the scientific name of a black white spotted mosquito less than 1 centimeter. Do you know that annoying mosquito flying around you during the day? He may be the carrier of three very serious diseases: dengue, chikungunya and zika, which are becoming true pests in the country.

It's been since 1896 that dengue outbreaks have happened here, but at that time, the main concern with the mosquito was another: the transmission of yellow fever. In the 1950s, the country managed to eradicate the presence of Aedes aegypti and controlled yellow fever cases, but the weakening of measures in the following years and the presence of the vector in other parts of America caused the mosquito to return to the entire territory, this time with the dengue virus.

The mosquito, which is originally from Egypt, boarded the slave ships to the Americas and Asia. In some cases, so many people died that the vessels were almost empty, true ghost ships drifting in the ocean.

In this species of mosquito, only the female bites because it needs the human's blood to develop the eggs within its own body after mating. So they choose a number of safe places to lay their eggs, which gives them a better chance of survival, and lays them very close to clean water, with little organic matter, and in the shade, like those little dishes under the flowers. or the remains of building material you've been accumulating for years in your backyard.

The size of a grain of sand, the eggs of the Aedes aegypti mosquito are imperceptible to the human eye. They are also extremely hardy and can last more than a year until conditions are favorable for hatching. In rainy and hot environment, all this happens in just 7 days!

Larvae may already be born with viruses in the body if the mother has been carriers before. Also, females become vectors of the disease by ingesting the blood of an infected human, restarting the mosquito's life cycle.

Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya

The first mention of a dengue- like disease is from the year 992, found in a Chinese encyclopedia. It was not until World War II that the virus began to be studied and not only one but four subtypes were identified, each carrying distinct genes thanks to mutations that occurred over the years. This allowed the virus to become more aggressive after successive occurrences in the same person as it can enter defense cells already created the first few times and thus, hidden, reach the entire immune system.

The Zika virus, on the other hand, appeared in a monkey who was a test subject in yellow fever research in the Zika forest of Uganda, Africa. This is why the disease has its name. In 1948, the same virus was found in mosquitoes in the region.

Chikungunya fever is the most recent, first identified in Tanzania in 1952. The name chikungunya is a maconde (local language) word for “those who bend over” because the disease is associated with a lot of joint pain.

All three diseases have very similar symptoms and it is difficult for even the most experienced doctors to diagnose each one. In all body pains and red spots appear on the skin, but stay smart! Each disease has a particularity:

• Dengue: pains all over the body and behind the eyes, red itchy spots and fever up to 40 degrees; can be identified with serological test;
• Chikungunya: headaches and muscle aches, severe joint pain (hands, elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles), non-itchy red spots and fever up to 40 degrees; is diagnosed with a blood test called PCR;
• Zika: sore joints, reddish spots that cause itching, redness of the eyes and low fever, up to 38 °. However, 80% of those infected do not experience any of these symptoms. It is also identified on the PCR blood test.

There are no specific remedies for the diseases, it is only possible to treat the symptoms with antipyretics and analgesics, always recommended by the doctor. It is also necessary to drink plenty of fluids and rest, preferably indoors and with repellent. This avoids a new mosquito bite that can take the virus to someone else.

In the case of Zika, the virus can lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome, inflammation of the nervous system that causes weakness or paralysis in humans. In pregnant women infected with the virus mainly in the first trimester of pregnancy, Zika is responsible for cases of microcephaly in infants, when the newborn's skull is smaller than 32 centimeters in diameter. Microcephaly can lead to death in extreme cases or sequelae to survivors, such as difficulty in moving, speaking and cognitive functions. There are no preventive vaccines against any of the three diseases, but there are tests for dengue fever.

Do not hesitate! 10 attitudes to eliminate the mosquito

It is clear that the Aedes aegypti mosquito is not welcome in anyone's house, but this unwanted visitor may be buzzing in your ear right now! The only way to send it away is to eliminate all possible outbreaks of clean, standing and exposed water, which are even more common during the summer rainy season.

Make sure you're safe by completing all of the tasks below and alerting your neighbors, family, and friends to do the same in their homes.

• Keep containers such as bottles and containers always upside down or capped;
• Beware of the flowers! Add sand or dirt to the dishes under the pots or discard them for good. It is also advisable to avoid growing plants that may store water in their petals or leaves, such as bromeliads;
• Even places we don't imagine can accumulate water. Frequently clean the gutters of your home and, if clogging is identified, arrange for urgent repair;
• If you are storing tires, put them in a place protected from rain and remove any water they may be storing;
• Do not accumulate rubble in your own house or throw it on vacant land;
• It is important to keep your bin tightly closed and, when disposing of the plastic bag, remember to tie it tightly;
• Close and seal your water tank. Even in times of drought, when it is customary to store rainwater, be sure to protect yourself;
• Pools, fountains, and statues should be cleaned frequently;
• Watch out for the slabs! This is a space that usually has several items discovered. Leave them sheltered from the rains;
• In addition to removing all exposed water, it is advisable to wash objects that will be used again (such as the trash can and flower dishes with soil or sand). Remember that the mosquito lays its eggs close to the water, and they are very hardy;
• Since Aedes aegypti 's development cycle is one week, it is important to do a little cleaning every seven days;
• In addition to the above attitudes, be alert to other possible outbreaks and remember that this villain is not visible to us humans, so if you find clean and still water, you have to throw it away properly or wash and use it responsibly.