August 20 was World Mosquito Day...yes, you read that right!

23 August 2024

From Emily McCamy

Did you know mosquitoes claim more lives than any other animal on earth?

Did you know mosquitoes claim more lives than any other animal on earth?

August 20 has been dedicated to the pesky insect that can carry vector-borne diseases like Zika, dengue, malaria, chikungunya, yellow fever and is a nuisance to outdoor activities.

During the Spanish-American war, more American soldiers died from yellow fever, malaria, and other diseases than from combat. At the termination of the Spanish-American War in 1898, American military forces occupied the island of Cuba, including Guantanamo Bay where the Battle for Cuzco Wells was fought.

Lt. Jyl Bean, environmental health officer and preventive medicine department head at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, observes Anopheles mosquitoes and larvae inside a container used to breed mosquitos, Jan 17, 2024. Samples from stagnant water are collected and transferred into breeding containers where mosquito eggs are grown into adults and then studied to identify what kind of mosquitoes exist on base. (U.S. Navy photo by Emily McCamy)

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Carlo Fulgenzi, a preventive medicine technician, looks through a microscope at an Anopheles mosquito found at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Jan. 18, 2024. The Preventive Medicine team at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay performs mosquito surveillance around base to identify species of mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are then shipped to the Army Public Health Center East, where they are studied to identify whether a particular mosquito is carrying a blood-borne disease. (U.S. Navy photo by Emily McCamy)

Peering through the microscope reveals a magnified view of an Anopheles mosquito found at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Jan. 17, 2024. The Preventive Medicine team monitors the mosquito population and sends samples to the Army Public Health Command East, Fort Meade, Maryland, where they are studied to identify whether a particular mosquito is carrying a blood-borne disease. (U.S. Navy photo by Emily McCamy)

Tropical diseases were a major concern of the government because of the impact on the health of the military. Army Major Walter Reed and a team of doctors were sent to investigate the diseases, particularly the pathogenic mechanism of yellow fever. The discovery of the cause of yellow fever is considered one of the most important contributions in the field of medicine and human history.

At U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, the Preventive Medicine team monitors the mosquito population. Whether studying the different species found here or collecting samples for further testing off-island, the team helps ensure those annoying insects aren't making our community sick.

Discover the facts about mosquito-borne illnesses and how to safeguard against them: www.Health.mil/mosquito

Story originally posted on DVIDS: August 20 was World Mosquito Day...yes, you read that right!

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