World Mosquito Day: August 20
Technical note on World Mosquito Day: August 20, with a focus on diagnosis, prevention and criteria applicable to professional pest management.
In 1897, a British doctor named Ronald Ross discovered that female mosquitoes (of the genus Anopheles) were responsible for transmitting the malaria parasite. Simply put, their discovery ultimately led to smarter ways to prevent mosquito-borne diseases like malaria,
dengue and Zika. Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his findings in 1902, and his discovery is celebrated each year on August 20, World Mosquito Day. In recent times, with rising temperatures, urbanization and globalization, mosquito-borne diseases have spread even further.
Despite Dr. Ross's historic achievements, only recently have we seen notable changes in the way we fight them. Associations around the world work to increase awareness about the importance of mosquito control to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.