• Question: Other than mosquitos are there any other bugs/insects that people get bitten by that cause a virus or illness?

    Asked by anon-181545 to Claire on 11 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Claire Donald

      Claire Donald answered on 11 Jun 2018:


      Hi Splutterypoet32 (Great name!)

      There are other animals that can spread disease by biting in addition to mosquitoes. These infections are called zoonotic diseases and they can be caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites. In terms of insects there are ticks, midgies, sandflies, tsetse flies and fleas which can transmit disease when they bite you. There is even an insect called the kissing bug which can transmit disease.

      Animals like dogs and foxes can spread rabies through bites and if you get bitten by a rat you can get something that imaginatively named ‘rat bite fever’. It is also quite important that if you get bitten by any animal (like a pet for instance) that you are up-to-date on your tetanus vaccinations. Tetanus is caused by a bacteria found in the soil and manure. It can cause infections when it gets through an open wound (like a bite) and can be very serious.

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