Source: CCTV.com

04-20-2006 09:01

In South America, the population of bloodsucking insects has already reached a frightening level. This is the biggest bloodsucking insect in the world, known as the kissing bug, because they like to suck blood from your lip. They spread a disease called Chagas' disease. Their ability to pass on the pathogens has nothing to do with their body size. A bloodsucking insect, which is much smaller in size, changed the course of history. Inside this tiny package, are the super bloodsucking insects. To wait for their prey to show up, they remain in the chrysalis for one year. These are fleas. The flea's jumping skill is amazing. The acceleration produced by its jump is a hundred times higher than that of a rocket.

People are far more familiar with a flea's jumping ability than its bloodsucking, which spread the bubonic plague. The first outbreak was in 541A.D. It reduced the population of southern Europe by 35%. In the 14th century, it had claimed one half of the lives in London, being called the Black Death. In the next three centuries, outbreaks occurred constantly. The third outbreak was in Asia in 1892. The death toll of India reached six million. In 1980, an elementary school teacher in California died of the plague. Fortunately, his students weren't infected. Many people thought the plague was a thing of the past. Yet fleas are still spread it among their hosts- rodents such as squirrels and rats.

As antibiotics resistance has been recorded all over the world, the plague is approaching our cities.

Scientists at the Epidemic Disease Prevention and Treatment Center in California know they won't be able to stop the outbreak, but they still keep a close eye on it.

Within one year, 12 squirrels in a San Diego campground tested positive for plague. Now, rodents and fleas are not in as intimate contact with humans as in the past. Yet, if the pathogen carriers' mobility and tracking skills become more sophisticated, the situation will change.

Facing the most powerful predatory insects, you can only run but you can't hide. With its keen sense of smell, the mosquito can track you down from a hundred meters away.

Darkness can not provide protection. At certain distances, they will switch to heat sensing, which will lead them straight to the surface of your skin.

Every year, 3 million people become infected with malaria transmitted by mosquitoes.

Paul Reiter of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at Harvard University has recorded many epidemic diseases. His records indicated that the Aedes mosquitoes of Egypt are able to carry not only malaria but also dengue fever and yellow fever simultaneously.

It has been assumed that modernized cities can protect us from disease. Yet, a plague broke out in 1999. New York was struck with West Nile Fever.

Within one month, seven people died.

The residents had to battle tiny yet fatal invaders.

A person could be infected with the West Nile Fever while he was sleeping. An enemy that appears weak may actually be fatal.

Many cities are trying to control the mosquito population. In southern Florida, 8200 liters of pesticide is sprayed every week.

 

Editor:Wang Ping