Letting a mosquito finish biting increases the risk of disease transmission.
When a mosquito bites, it pierces your skin with its proboscis and sucks blood. The longer it remains attached, the more saliva it injects into your bloodstream. According to the provided reference, this is problematic because:
- Disease Transmission: The longer the mosquito bites, the greater the chance it can transmit diseases and germs into your body.
Therefore, it is recommended to flick the mosquito away immediately upon noticing a bite. Do not allow the mosquito to continue feeding.
Why It's Important to Stop a Mosquito Bite Quickly
The longer a mosquito bites, the more time it has to:
- Inject saliva: Mosquito saliva contains anticoagulants to prevent your blood from clotting while they feed, but also carries potential pathogens.
- Potential for disease: Diseases like West Nile virus, Zika virus, and malaria can be transmitted via infected mosquito saliva.
- Increased reaction: More saliva may mean a more intense itching and swelling reaction at the bite site.
Mosquito Bite Prevention
While avoiding mosquito bites altogether is not always possible, there are measures you can take:
- Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.
- Wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk.
- Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed around your home.
- Use mosquito nets while sleeping if necessary.
In summary, the primary risk of letting a mosquito finish biting is an increased chance of disease transmission due to the mosquito injecting more saliva into your bloodstream. The best approach is to quickly flick away the mosquito the moment you notice it biting.
