Here are some of the best-known mosquito-transmitted diseases that Lion-Tiger protects you from:
Arboviral Encephalitides
Arboviral encephalitides are mosquito-transmitted viral diseases capable of causing encephalitis (brain inflammation). Varieties found in the United States include eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and La Crosse (LAC) encephalitis, and West Nile Virus encephalitis. Encephalitis is a very serious disease that can lead to coma, brain damage and death. Eastern equine encephalitis is particularly deadly, with a 30-35% fatality rate, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, cases are rare — an average of four a year in the U.S., according to the CDC.
Most viral encephalitis infections either don’t produce any symptoms at all or only lead to general flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache and malaise. Symptoms of severe encephalitis include high fever, stiff neck or back, sensitivity to light, vomiting and confusion.
West Nile Virus
West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is now established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. The most serious manifestation of WNV infection is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
According to the CDC, only about one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. Most people infected with the virus will not develop any symptoms at all. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old.
The first appearance of WNV in North America was in 1999, according to the CDC, with encephalitis reported in humans and horses. From 1999 through 2001, there were 149 cases of West Nile virus human illness in the United States reported to CDC and confirmed, including 18 deaths.
Malaria
Malaria is a major international public health problem, causing 300–500 million infections worldwide and approximately one million deaths annually, according to the CDC. Confined primarily to large areas of Central and South America, Hispaniola, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Pacific, malaria is a disease spread by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
This disease is characterized by a broad range of symptoms, from fever and body ache to serious infection leading to seizures, coma, and death. Though contracting malaria can have serious consequences, illness and death are largely preventable. Vaccinations against malaria currently do not exist, but taking an appropriate drug regimen and protection against mosquito bites can help prevent malaria. Regardless of precautions, however, travelers are still at some risk of contracting the disease.
Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is primarily a disease of the tropics, and the viruses that cause it are maintained in a cycle that involves humans and Aedes aegypti, a domestic, day-biting mosquito that prefers to feed on humans. Infection with dengue viruses produces a spectrum of illness ranging from vague sickness to fatal blood disease. No dengue vaccine is available.
Yellow Fever
Only occurring in South America and Africa, yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted between humans by a mosquito. Yellow fever is a very rare cause of illness in travelers, but most countries have regulations and requirements for yellow fever vaccination that must be met prior to entering the country. Travelers should also follow general precautions to avoid mosquito bites.