World Mosquito Day 2023. World Mosquito Day is a special day dedicated to spreading awareness about mosquitoes and the types of diseases they carry. It is celebrated on 20th August of every year worldwide.
World Mosquito Day is celebrated on 20th August every year to commemorate the discovery made by Sir Ronald Ross in 1897, who found out that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. This was a groundbreaking discovery that opened the way for combating one of the deadliest diseases in human history. Sir Ronald Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for his work on malaria.
World Mosquito Day is also a day to raise awareness about the impact of mosquitoes on global health and how we can prevent and control the diseases they spread, such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, yellow fever, and many others. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world, causing over one million deaths every year. By educating people about the risks and the preventive measures, we can save lives and reduce the burden of these diseases.
To celebrate World Mosquito Day, many organizations and individuals organize events and activities to spread the word about mosquitoes and their role in disease transmission. Some examples are:
- The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), where Sir Ronald Ross worked, hosts an annual event with lectures, exhibitions, games, and quizzes related to mosquitoes and malaria.
- The Malaria No More UK campaign organizes a Mosquito Hunt, where participants use their smartphones to find and scan QR codes hidden around London that reveal facts about mosquitoes and malaria.
- The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) encourages people to share their mosquito stories and photos on social media using the hashtag #WorldMosquitoDay.
You can also join the celebration by learning more about mosquitoes and malaria, donating to organizations that fight against these diseases, or taking action to protect yourself and your community from mosquito bites. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against mosquitoes and the diseases they carry.
Some of the preventive measures that you can take to save yourself from mosquito bites are:
- Use mosquito repellent: Apply an effective mosquito repellent on exposed skin to keep mosquitoes at bay.
- Wear protective clothing: Cover your body with long sleeves, pants, and socks to reduce mosquito bites.
- Eliminate standing water: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so empty any containers that collect water, such as buckets, flower pots, or birdbaths.
- Use bed nets: When sleeping, use bed nets treated with insecticides to protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially in areas where malaria is prevalent.
- Stay indoors during peak mosquito activity: Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk, so try to stay indoors during these times.
