PARIS: Mosquitoes may appear small and harmless, but scientists say they remain the deadliest animals on Earth, responsible for spreading diseases that kill hundreds of thousands of people every year.
According to the research platform Our World in Data, mosquitoes cause around 760,000 deaths annually by transmitting illnesses such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus.
Experts say mosquitoes account for nearly 17 percent of all infectious diseases worldwide, making them far more lethal than snakes, spiders or large predators.
Scientists are also warning that climate change is worsening the threat, as rising global temperatures allow mosquitoes to survive in new regions and for longer periods during the year.
Not all are dangerous
However, researchers say not all mosquito species are dangerous to humans.
Out of nearly 3,500 mosquito species worldwide, only around 100 bite humans, while just five species are responsible for nearly 95 percent of mosquito-borne infections.
Hilary Ranson, a vector biologist at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said eliminating a few dangerous mosquito species could be acceptable considering the massive human and economic losses caused by these insects.
Researchers say the disease-carrying mosquitoes have evolved to live very closely with humans by feeding on human blood and breeding near homes and settlements.
Because of this, some scientists believe removing these species may not seriously damage ecosystems, as other, less dangerous mosquito species could replace them in nature.
Still, experts caution that more research is needed before taking large-scale action.
Dan Peach, an entomologist at the University of Georgia, said mosquitoes also serve as food for fish, insects, and other animals, while some species help pollinate plants.
How to stop them?
Scientists are currently testing several advanced technologies to control mosquito populations and reduce disease transmission.
One of the most discussed methods is gene-drive technology, which genetically modifies mosquitoes so that harmful traits are passed to future generations.
In laboratory experiments, scientists made female malaria-carrying Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes infertile, causing mosquito populations to collapse within a few generations.
A project called Target Malaria, supported by the Gates Foundation, has tested the technology in several African countries.
However, the programme faced setbacks after Burkina Faso suspended testing following criticism from civil society groups and online disinformation campaigns.
Another promising method involves infecting mosquitoes with a bacterium called Wolbachia, which can either reduce mosquito populations or weaken their ability to transmit diseases, such as dengue fever.
Researchers say the approach has already produced encouraging results.
In the Brazilian city of Niteroi, the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes reportedly reduced dengue cases by 89 percent.
According to the World Mosquito Program, more than 16 million people in 15 countries have benefited from the technology without any major negative consequences.
Meanwhile, another research initiative called Transmission Zero aims at genetically modifying mosquitoes so that they can no longer transmit malaria.
Despite technological progress, experts stress that there is no single “magic solution” to defeat mosquito-borne diseases.
Scientists stressed the need for improving healthcare access, disease diagnosis, vaccination, housing, and sanitation in vulnerable countries.
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