Vectors are specific life forms that serve as a conduit for the spread of infectious diseases from animals to humans and, in certain cases, even between people. Illnesses spread by vectors, such as mosquitos, are referred to as vector-borne diseases, and examples include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, etc.  

The disease-causing viruses initially infect these small organisms, and once they get infected, they may spread the infection to humans at any time during their lives by coming into touch with a human host. Numerous factors, including the habitat in which the vector breeds, the population density, and the rate of urbanization, can heavily influence the spread of vector-borne illnesses in that area. 

You need to remember that a vector borne disease puts you at higher risk in places where the vectors are abundant, such as still water bodies, thick grass-covered areas, and locations with a history of significant past outbreaks. Mosquitoes are the most common vectors, and you should be careful about the mosquito borne diseases symptoms to receive treatment before the symptoms get worse.  

Are Mosquito-borne and Vector-borne Diseases the Same?  

Mosquitos are the most widespread type of vector, and mosquitoes disease are called vector-borne diseases, however, not all vector-borne diseases are mosquito-borne rainy season diseases. Vector-borne illnesses may be brought on by bacteria, viruses, or parasites, and only the illnesses that spread to humans through mosquito bites are known as mosquito-borne illnesses. 

Mosquito-borne illnesses are sometimes caused by viruses, as in the case of Zika, and in other cases, such as malaria, they are caused by parasites. Certain infections, such as malaria, have caused disease in people for thousands of years, while others, like the Zika virus, are relatively new and spreading quickly between continents. Quick urbanization, constant international travel, and the growing human population in almost every location are some of the factors that have made it more likely for mosquitoes to multiply and spread disease on a larger scale.

Vector-Borne Disease Symptoms

Depending on the illness and the virus, different vector-borne illnesses have different symptoms, but let us take a look at the mosquito borne diseases symptoms here since mosquitos are the most common vectors that spread diseases.  

• Dengue: Frequent signs and symptoms of dengue include a sharply elevated temperature, constant headache, joint and muscular pain, eye discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and enlarged lymph nodes in the patient. Severe dengue causes bleeding from various sited, multiple organ failure.
• Malaria:  Fever, sweating, headache, body pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and chest discomfort are some of the symptoms of malaria, and sometimes, severe malaria episodes may result in jaundice.
• Zika: Zika is one of the newest mosquito-borne rainy season diseases, and the majority of people show no symptoms when they get infected. Merely twenty percent of the infected people exhibit modest symptoms such as headache, low temperature, stiff joints, and sore muscles. However, it may occasionally set off further neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, which you should be careful about.
• Yellow fever: Yellow fever, primarily occurs in sub Saharan Africa, South America, however we can encounter imported cases here in India.  Symptoms include fever, headaches, nausea, lack of appetite, and pain, and the symptoms usually go away in three to four days. However, remission can occasionally happen, and in the remission period, the patient may have a high fever, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Unfortunately, almost fifty percent of cases that progress to this hazardous phase may become fatal, and that’s why early treatment is a must. 
• Chikungunya : It is another illness transmitted by mosquitoes, manifests as fever with joint pains, skin rash, pains are typically severe and debilitating, prevent the patient from walking (chikungunya in African language means stooped walk). Severe complications include lung failure, heart failure, neurological involvement, heart failure, renal failure.
• Japanese encephalitis : Spread by mosquito bites, this illness (popularly known as chamki in Bihar), affects children and adolescents. Most common symptoms are fever, diarrhea, rigors, followed by vomiting, generalized weakness, after which neurological complications follow, like mental status changes, , weakness of limbs, face, coma, respiratory failure. Vaccine for this illness is readily available. 

A cure is not available for all illnesses spread by vectors, and drugs like quinone, which either kills the parasite or stops its growth, can be used to treat parasitic infections, such as malaria. Bacterial infections like plague are treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline and chloramphenicol, however, the newest vector-borne diseases often don't have established treatment.

How to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Diseases? 

You may take certain steps to stop specific vector borne disease such as mosquitoes disease from infecting you, and the preventative methods are not hard to follow. 

• Avoiding mosquito bites is the best defense against illnesses spread by mosquitoes, so you have to make sure to use screens on windows and doors and replace any damaged or broken screens as soon as possible.
• Certain diseases, such as  Japanese encephalitis, can be prevented efficiently by vaccination, and if you are not already vaccinated and live in an endemic zone or planning travel to an endemic zone, visit your doctor today. Vaccine against dengue and malaria are under development.  
• When outside, dress in long sleeves, long pants, shoes, and socks, and apply bug repellant on any uncovered skin, such as your neck, fingers, and face.  
• Avoid spending too much time outside during the dawn and dusk when the mosquitos are especially active so that you can avoid bites.
• Do not visit areas with a history of widespread vector-borne illnesses, however, if you must visit, get prepared by getting vaccinated before your trip. Always remember to make an appointment for a travel health consultation with your physician at least six weeks before your trip if you will be visiting regions where vector-borne illnesses are prevalent.
• Steer clear of the infected people's body fluids, including blood, and secretions, at all times to avoid infection.
• Do not allow stagnant water to accumulate in and around your houses, on terraces (like in empty flower pots ), you can spray oil (typically kerosene) over stagnant water puddles to stop mosquito breeding.

How to Control Mosquito Borne or Vector Borne Disease? 

To control the spread of vector-borne rainy season diseases, any potential locations where disease-carrying vectors could exist and grow must be regularly cleaned. Ponds, swimming pools, and other forms of stagnant water come under this category, and it is also important to take precautions to prevent rainwater from building up in areas like public parks. 

People also need to make sure that there are no exposed or open water tanks in the kitchen, restrooms, or garden. In order to kill the larvae of the vectors, suitable pesticides must be applied in areas that might become breeding grounds, and the process must be repeated to keep the area clean. 

Final Remarks 

Small organisms called vectors spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites to healthy people, and the rate of infection can be quite widespread in certain cases. Mosquitoes are one such vector, and mosquitoes disease can be particularly troublesome to handle in the rainy season when it starts to spread. Restricting exposure to vectors is the best way to go if you want to avoid infection, however, vaccination also works for specific viruses. 

Vector-borne illnesses can make you seriously ill and that is especially true for mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, zika, and yellow fever. If untreated, these diseases can be fatal, and that’s why you should be careful about mosquito borne diseases symptoms to receive treatment at the earliest opportunity.