Can mosquitos spread coronavirus?
The pathogens mosquitos spread by sucking our blood cause over half a million deaths each year and hundreds of millions of cases of severe illness.
But there is no scientific evidence to suggest mosquitos are transmitting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
While there are many things we have yet to know about the coronavirus, current research supports that it’s highly unlikely a mosquito will pick up the virus by biting an infected person, let alone be able to pass it on.
Mosquitos CAN transmit other viruses
Female mosquitos need the nutrition found in blood to help develop their eggs. Viruses take advantage of this requirement as mosquitoes can easily move from host to host to transmit diseases.
But for a mosquito to become infected, it first needs to bite an infected animal, such as a bird of kangaroo, or a person.
The list of diseases a mosquito can transfer includes dengue, tallow fever, chikungunya, Zika and Ross River virus. They can also spread malaria, which is caused by a parasite.
But they cannot transmit other viruses such as HIV and Ebola.
Coronavirus is mainly spread through droplets produced when people sneeze or cough, and by touched surfaces that are contaminated.
While the virus is found in blood, there’s no evidence that can spread via mosquitos.
So if a mosquito does pick up a substantial dose of the virus, the virus won’t be able to infect the mosquito itself.
And if the mosquito isn’t infected, it won’t be able to transmit it to the next person.