The team at Heron Home & Outdoor knows how distressing and uncertain times are right now during the coronavirus pandemic. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation to stay educated as we continue to focus on our commitment on the safety and health of our communities here in central Florida. As we learn more and more about the unfolding situation each day, there are endless questions surrounding the nature of the virus, including how it is spread. As of now, there is no evidence or proof to suggest that mosquitoes and ticks transmit COVID-19. Although these two insects transmit vector-borne diseases worldwide, coronavirus is not one of them.

Using information from the CDC, we’ll explore on the differences between vector-borne diseases and COVID-19 to help dispel myths about transmission in this blog post.

Can Mosquitoes & Ticks Transmit Coronavirus?

No, mosquitoes and ticks do not transmit COVID-19. There are a few things we know to be certain as of now:

1. The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus that, to date, is spread through person-to-person contact.
2. COVID-19 spreads through droplets from saliva or nasal discharge, often generated when an infected person sneezes or coughs. It can also be transmitted via contact with a contaminated surface and is increasingly considered to be an airborne virus.
3. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and now COVID-19 are zoonotic coronaviruses – viruses that have jumped the species barrier from their normal animal hosts to humans.

Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases

Ticks and mosquitoes are vector pests. But what exactly does that mean? Vector pests are organisms that transmit diseases to humans through bites. These two insects in particular are infamous for their roles in the transmission of critical and serious diseases around the globe. Mosquitoes are tied to some of the world’s most dangerous diseases including malaria, Zika virus, West Nile virus, chikungunya, yellow fever, and more. Ticks are most known for their ability to spread Lyme disease, which is currently the most common vector-borne disease in the United States.

Pest Control During a Pandemic

Mosquitoes may be responsible for the transmission of some of the world’s most deadly diseases, but from what we know, coronavirus is not one of them. At Heron, we understand mosquitoes are still a threat. As always, it’s important to take caution in the presence of pests and to always enlist the help of a professional exterminator to prevent biting insects. Heron is here for you during the pandemic and all year long.

As the COVID-19 situation unfolds, we encourage our customers to seek more information and follow guidelines released by the WHO, CDC, as well as your state and local public health agencies.