World Mosquito Day,
observed
Observation is the active acquisition of information from a primary source. In living beings, observation employs the senses. In science, observation can also involve the perception and recording of data (information), data via the use of scienti ...
annually on
20 August, is a commemoration of British doctor
Sir Ronald Ross
Sir Ronald Ross (13 May 1857 – 16 September 1932) was a British medical doctor who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for his work on the transmission of malaria, becoming the first British Nobel laureate, and the f ...
's discovery in 1897 that female
anopheline mosquitoes
Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning "gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "litt ...
transmit
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
between humans. Prior to the discovery of the transmitting organism, vector, there were few means for controlling the spread of the disease although the discovery of quinine in treatment had alleviated the problem of treatment. According to one survey, nearly half the world population was at significant risk from malaria in the 19th century with a 10% mortality among those infected. Ross had already conducted experiments with ''Culex'' (possibly ''C. fatigans'') fed on birds infected with bird malaria ''Protesoma relictum'' (now ''Plasmodium relictum'') in 1894 and noted that they developed in mosquito gut and had surmised that the same may happen in malaria. Ross had noted the day of the discovery made in
Secunderabad
Secunderabad, also spelled as Sikandarabad (, ), is a twin cities, twin city of Hyderabad and one of the six zones of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Telangana. It ...
(printed incorrectly as 1895, but definitely 1897 based on his postings). Patrik is celebrating too
'
Theme of World Mosquito Day 2022''
In the year 2022, World Mosquito Day was observed under the theme of “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives”.
The
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is a public research university in Bloomsbury, central London, and a member institution of the University of London that specialises in public health and tropical medicine.
The inst ...
holds Mosquito Day celebrations every year, including events such as parties and exhibitions, a tradition dating back to as early as the 1930s.
See also
*
World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day (WMD) is an list of minor secular observances#April, international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of mala ...
References
External links
World Mosquito DayWorld Mosquito Day NewsWorld Mosquito Day - 2017
August observances
Insects in culture
Flies and humans
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