Mosquitos are small flying insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Almost everyone has had the unpleasant experience of being bitten by a mosquito, which typically results in an itchy red welt you can't stop scratching. However, aside from being an annoyance, mosquito bites come with the risk of carrying and transmitting serious diseases such as West Nile, Zika virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
There are no human vaccines for these viruses, but getting your yard routinely sprayed throughout the season, along with other general precautions like eliminationing all standing water and debris around your home, can help reduce the risk of infection.
Not only can mosquito bites affect humans, they can also transmit several types of parasites or diseases to your pets; dogs and horses being particularly susceptible to heart worms, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus.