What diseases do mosquitoes carry?

Mosquitoes are the vectors (carriers) of a number of human diseases.

The most common pathogen they carry is the protozoa that causes malaria. They can also carry the virus for yellow fever and dengue fever.

More rare viral diseases such as Rift valley fever or the West Nile virus are also carried by some species of mosquitoes. Dengue fever and Yellow fever can be transmitted by mosquitoes. Various forms of encephalitis can be transmitted by mosquitoes, among them Eastern equine encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, La crosse encephalitis and St Louis encephalitis.

Many people do not realize mosquitoes are also known carriers of dog heartworm disease.

The HIV virus does not survive inside mosquitoes so they cannot spread it.

In Australia, mosquitoes are carriers of the Ross River Fever and Barmah Forest virus.