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• chris
  September 29th, 2006 at 6:56 pm

  i find it difficult to believe that the notable George Washington fled Philidelpha in 1973.

• Moon
  September 29th, 2006 at 7:06 pm

  I hate mosquitoes. It’s a big part of the reason I live in Chicago. There are no mosquitoes.

• Aleki
  September 29th, 2006 at 7:39 pm

  In 1793 the Yellow Fever epidemic swept through the capital of Philadelphia, and people from all over the city sought refuge in the country. President George Washington and his entire cabinet escaped the Fever by relocating to Germantown.

  The Deshler-Morris House (A historical home) was the site where Washington conducted his cabinet (Jefferson, Hamilton, Randolph, & Knox). They all relocated with Washington.

  Chris…. Do a google search if you still find it hard to believe.

• aesir
  September 29th, 2006 at 8:08 pm

  Aleki: Chris is kidding. He referring to the typo that says 1973 when it really should say 1793.

• Aleki
  September 29th, 2006 at 10:33 pm

  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh………… Gotcha….. Guess my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be. Sorry Chris

• Miss Cellania
  September 29th, 2006 at 11:48 pm

  And the reason we don’t have vaccines for these diseases? Because the Third World is not a profitable market.

• Alex
  September 30th, 2006 at 4:22 am

  Apparently, my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be too, Aleki - totally missed the typo! And I read it over too!

  Good catch Chris.

• aApe
  September 30th, 2006 at 5:51 am

  another good resaon to swat is the Human Bot Fly, _D. hominis_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_bot_fly).

  Mosquitos are one of the intermediate hosts in its lifecycle. The larvae enter while the infected mosquito is feeding. they then grow to maturity under the host’s (in this case, you) skin.

  it’s better than the rat variety they eat the host’s testicles.

• Bryan
  September 30th, 2006 at 7:38 am

  How are you supposed to vaccinate against a parasite? There is a proven way to wipe out malaria that worked great in the American South, but I’m betting you wouldn’t like it.

• Aleki
  September 30th, 2006 at 3:21 pm

  Bryan,I think your talking about DDT? Here’s a link that talks a lot about that and actually it supports the idea that DDT got a bad rap. I haven’t taken the time to read all of the science behind it yet but it sounds pretty reasonable.

  http://junkscience.com/ddtfaq.htm

• seb
  September 30th, 2006 at 6:40 pm

  Thanks for this post. It only increases my paranoia of diseases! You’re right though, mosquitoes seem harmless, but they can mess you up with bad viruses, and for some reason we have a ton of them in Phx this year.

• greenfrog
  October 1st, 2006 at 4:18 am

  Only 5 reasons? I’m sure there’s many more that could be added, for instance here in Australia we have the Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses, both transmitted by mosquitoes. I’ve had Ross River virus and I can assure you that it’s no fun at all.
  http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/Youve-got-what/specific-conditions/ross-r iver.htm

  Also there is increasing evidence that the Bairnsdale ulcer or Buruli ulcer is mosquito borne, this link has details, beware the pictures at the end of the page are not for the weak of stomach.
  http://members.ozemail.com.au/~groverjohnson/Mulcerans.htm

• Azuara
  October 2nd, 2006 at 4:15 am

  Hi! Great post

  I write a blog in Spanish where I publish almost daily scientific stuff, specially all the things concerning infectious diseases and of the developing countries (diseases often forgotten).

  I would like to ask you permission to translate your article in my blog. It would be a translation of the whole post and of course, linking Neatorama and Mental Floss. Let me know

  Thanks a lot

• Alex
  October 3rd, 2006 at 4:25 am

  Aleki: I can understand the moral dilemma of using DDT, despite its environmental impact, in order to save human lives from malaria.

  greenfrog: engrossing (at the same time, gross) article and photos about the Buruli ulcer. Most appreciated - thanks!

  Azuara: you should contact mental_floss directly at their blog.

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