How does the Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmit Chikungunya?

Dear Doc,

How could a little mosquito transmit such a deadly illness and anyway I was not bitten by any mosquitos and I use nets at night.{{more}}

Bradley

Dear Bradley,

The truth is that many mosquitos don’t cause much pain or reaction to the skin when they bite, thus even though you did not feel the bite or see the mosquito, it does not mean that you were not bitten. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito harvests blood with clinical precision without disturbing the person thus making it efficient in transmitting the virus.

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is a day-feeder with its preferred time early in the morning and late evening. You must not discount its ability to feed during the day under desks, factories and in the forest and gardens during the day, when the conditions are ideal. Sleeping under a net at nights will serve well to keep off the other mosquitos that are active then, but the Aedes Aegypti is not most active at that time.

The size of the mosquitos is nothing in comparison with the actual size of the real culprit. Though the mosquitos are small, it is impossible to see the chikungunya virus with the naked eyes. It can only be seen with powerful microscopes. Don’t let size fool you. It is a small organism with a powerful punch.

Doc

SVG Cancer Society,

P.O. Box 709, Kingstown.

Email: svgsocietycancer@gmail.com

Phone:526-7036