The correct answer is: World Mosquito Day.
World Mosquito Day is celebrated on August 20 each year to raise awareness of the dangers of mosquitoes and the diseases they carry, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya. The day was first observed in 2007, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision to designate August 20 as World Mosquito Day.
The WHO estimates that malaria kills more than 400,000 people each year, most of them children under the age of five. Dengue fever is a viral disease that causes fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a rash. Yellow fever is a viral disease that causes fever, headache, muscle pain, jaundice, and bleeding. Chikungunya is a viral disease that causes fever, headache, joint pain, and rash.
Mosquitoes are also vectors for other diseases, such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, and Lyme disease.
There are a number of things that can be done to prevent mosquito-borne diseases, including:
- Using insect repellent
- Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants
- Using mosquito nets
- Sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net
- Emptying, cleaning, or covering containers that can hold water, such as buckets, flower pots, and tires
- Repairing or filling in any holes or cracks in walls or windows
- Using screens on windows and doors
- Removing standing water from around your home and yard
World Mosquito Day is an opportunity to learn more about mosquitoes and the diseases they carry, and to take steps to protect yourself and your family from these diseases.