When it comes to dangerous animals, many imagine great white sharks, grizzly bears or poisonous snakes.
This was reported by URA-Inform with reference to IFLScience.
However, scientists claim that the deadliest creature on planet is not a large predator at all, but a tiny insect. The leader in the number of victims turned out to be mosquitoes.
Why are mosquitoes so dangerous?
Each year, these insects cause between 700,000 and 2.5 million deaths. The main threat is the infectious diseases they carry. Malaria is the deadliest of them: about 600,000 people die from this infection every year, and 200 million are temporarily incapacitated. Young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.
Comparison with other animals:
- White sharks: About 10 deaths per year.
- Grizzly bears: One death per year in North America.
- Cows: Cause 20-22 deaths annually in the U.S.
- Falling coconuts: Kill about 150 people per year.
In addition to malaria, mosquitoes also spread:
- Dengue fever.
- West Nile virus.
Climate change and the growing threat
A warming climate is expanding the range of mosquitoes. They are conquering territories that were previously inaccessible to them, which complicates the fight against them even in countries with a developed health care system.
Despite the efforts of scientists and doctors, mosquitoes continue to hold the title of the most deadly creatures on the planet, annually taking more lives than the most formidable predators.
Recall that earlier it was reported that scientists lowered a camera to the bottom of a dark trench: footage of what they saw appeared (photo).