When you think of mosquitoes you may just think of them as an annoyance. Come summertime when you’re spending more time outside, the mosquitoes show.

But, the insects are actually one of the deadliest pests on the planet. They spread diseases such as the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria among others. More than one million people are killed by mosquito-borne diseases each year. The worst of those diseases is malaria, which caused 438,000 deaths in just 2015, according to the WHO.

Not every mosquito-borne disease has a vaccine or a way to treat it once contracted.

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The increase of climate change around the globe has already increased the prevalence of some diseases.

Rising temperatures have helped dengue increase 30-fold in recent decades. More cholera outbreaks have also been linked to the environmental changes.

A recent study shows that heart disease may also be on the rise with the temperatures. But, it appears to be affecting babies more than any other group.

According to the CDC, “every four and a half minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. That means that 120,000 babies are affected by congenital disabilities each year.” Birth defects can be anything from a deformed limb to muscular dystrophy, or an internal abnormality causing Down syndrome.

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During peak flu season, we may get a bit wary when a person near us sneezes. Maybe they complain of those typical symptoms, like fatigue or muscle aches. We may keep a bit of extra distance from that person, hoping to stay free of that highly-contagious virus.

Thankfully, that’s why many people opt to get the flu shot every year. The vaccine offers the best protection against the flu strains that are expected to circulate that year.

But, sometimes flu season changes a bit, with an unexpected mutated strain. Each time a person becomes sick, the virus changes with the individual’s chemistry and other cells with which it comes in to contact. One of the reasons why the flu is so difficult to predict is because it has various strains that mutate. As a result, scientists and researchers are always updating the flu shot and creating a new vaccine each year in efforts to prevent the illness.

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When you’re sick, people tend to give you a lot of advice: anything ranging from home remedies, medications, or even working out.

There are a lot of contradicting pieces of advice out there about exercising while and after you’re sick. Some people say to rest. Some people say sweat it out.

But, what’s the real answer? How long should you wait to exercise after or when you’re sick?

The answer isn’t so simple.

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The risks of malaria affect travelers and locals alike in over 100 countries.

Luckily, preparation and vaccination can help us eliminate a lot of that risk. Unfortunately, malaria remains one of the world’s most dangerous viruses that we still don’t have a vaccine for.

The mosquito-borne disease is usually found in Africa and South America. Without early detection, it can be incredibly hard to stop the virus. The WHO estimates that in 2016 alone, 216 million clinical cases of malaria occurred with 445,000 of those cases leading to death.

Without a vaccine to speak of, preparation becomes even more important for travelers. But, that task gets even harder for pregnant women. There has been no chance for pregnant women to protect themselves as well as others against the disease.

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