The Mosquito is the Most Dangerous Animal in the World

Hello there my fellow troll. ;) It is obvious that my "No Trolling" rule will be hard for you to follow but it will stay. :) Let us begin :) Dangerous- describes something that encompasses danger. Danger- the potential that a chosen action or activity (including the choice of inaction) will lead to a loss (an undesirable outcome). Mosquito- small, midge-like flies: the Culicidae. Contention 1- Habitat- Mosquitoes are very widespread, occurring in all regions of the world except for Antarctica. In warm and humid tropical regions, they are active for the entire year, but in temperate regions they hibernate over winter. Arctic mosquitoes may be active for only a few weeks as pools of water form on top of the permafrost. During that time, though, they exist in huge numbers and can take up to 300ml of blood per day from each animal in a caribou herd. Eggs from strains in the temperate zones are more tolerant to the cold than ones from warmer regions. They can even tolerate snow and subzero temperatures. In addition, adults can survive throughout winter in suitable microhabitats. What makes the mosquito so dangerous is the fact that they are very widespread and are able to spread the viruses they carry with ease. Contention 2- Means of Spread- Worldwide introduction of various mosquito species over large distances into regions where they are not indigenous has occurred through human agencies, primarily on sea routes, in which the eggs, larvae, and pupae inhabiting water-filled used tires and cut flowers are transported. However, apart from sea transport, mosquitoes have been effectively carried by personal vehicles, delivery trucks, trains and aircraft. Quarantine measures have proved difficult to apply sufficiently consistently. Contention 3- Diseases- Mosquitoes can act as a vector for many disease-causing viruses and parasites. Infected mosquitoes carry these organisms from person to person without exhibiting symptoms themselves. Mosquito-borne diseases include: Viral diseases, such as yellow fever, dengue fever and Chikungunya, transmitted mostly by Aedes aegypti. Dengue fever is the most common cause of fever in travelers returning from the Caribbean, Central America, and South Central Asia. This disease is spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes and cannot be spread person to person. Severe dengue can be fatal, but with good treatment, less than 1% of patients die from dengue. The parasitic disease malaria, carried by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Lymphatic filariasis (the main cause of elephantiasis) which can be spread by a wide variety of mosquito species. West Nile virus is a concern in the United States, but there are no reliable statistics on worldwide cases. Tularemia, a bacterial disease caused by Francisella tularensis, is variously transmitted, including by biting flies. Culex and Culiseta, are vectors of tularemia as well as arbovirus infections such as West Nile Virus. Though originally transmission of HIV was a public health concern, practical considerations and studies of epidemiological patterns suggest that any transmission of the HIV virus by mosquitoes is in practice extremely unlikely at worst. Various species of mosquitoes are estimated to transmit various types of disease to more than 700 million people annually in Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, Russia and much of Asia, with millions of resultant deaths. At least two million people annually die of these diseases, and the morbidity rates are many times higher still. Methods used to prevent the spread of disease, or to protect individuals in areas where disease is endemic, include: Vector control aimed at mosquito control or eradication. Disease prevention, using prophylactic drugs and developing vaccines. Prevention of mosquito bites, with insecticides, nets and repellents. Since most such diseases are carried by "elderly" female mosquitoes, some scientists have suggested focusing on these to avoid the evolution of resistance. Contention 4- Death- Fatalities per Year- Mosquitoes- 2-3 million Snakes- 50-125,000 Scorpions- 800-2,000 Big Cats- 800 Crocodile- 600-800 Elephants- 300-500 Hippopotamuses- 100-150 Jellyfish- 100 Sharks- 100 Bears- 5-10 In conclusion, mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals in the world because, they live on every continent but Antarctica. The diseases they spread are deadly, incurable, and can be easily spread. Allowing them to have have the most human fatalities per annum than any other species. http://www.nuffy.net... http://en.wikipedia.org...