Mosquitoes as vectors of human disease in South Africa

Abstract

While malaria is the most important mosquito-borne disease in South Africa, there are also several mosquito-borne viruses that also cause human disease. The most significant are chikungunya, West Nile, Sindbis and Rift Valley fever viruses. In this review these are compared with malaria, mainly in regard to their ecology and epidemiology.

Keywords:

• mosquitoes
• malaria
• arboviruses
• chikungunya
• Sindbis
• West Nile
• Rift Valley fever
• dengue