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'World’s deadliest animal' kills more than 700K people a year
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals globally, causing over 700,000 human deaths annually by transmitting diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus.
- Malaria alone accounts for more than 600,000 deaths each year, primarily affecting young children in sub-Saharan Africa, with a recent resurgence of locally acquired cases in the US reported in 2023.
- Dengue fever infections are increasing in the US, with 2024 cases rising 359% compared to the average from 2010 to 2023, while West Nile virus cases have reached a 22-year high with severe neuroinvasive infections reported.
- Other mosquito-borne diseases like yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis cause thousands of deaths worldwide, mainly outside the US, but effective vaccines exist for these illnesses.
- Despite their reputation, only a small fraction of the over 3,700 mosquito species transmit dangerous pathogens to humans; most are harmless nuisances that cause minor irritation.
