Hi there Idyllic,
I mentioned that I squashed the mosquitoes on my skin, does this means that if the blood was near an open wound if could transmit? Also after killing/squashing the bug I touched my laptop, how should I clean it?
Take a look at the following article which related to Aids, but the same information applies to HCV.
http://www-rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/aids.htm
In order for a mosquito to successfully transmit a disease, the disease agent (virus, protozoa, microfilaria, etc.) must be able to survive in the mosquitoes gut after taking a blood meal from an infected host. A successful diseas agent needs not only to survive, but needs to replicate in sufficient numbers within its own body to infect the next host bitten. Most blood borne diseases are not able to survive within the mosquitoes body and are digested or die on their own. There are not enough virus particles available to infect the next host, even if you smash a fully engorged blood fed mosquito into an open wound.
As far as cleaning the contaminated laptop - it now ruined and needs to be destroyed. I'd be willing to take it off your hands for the cost of shipping. haha. Just clean with an alcohol wipe. No worries.
"I mentioned that I squashed the mosquitoes on my skin, does this means that if the blood was near an open wound if could transmit?"
No.
From the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. It works to protect public health and safety by providing information to enhance health decisions, and it promotes health through partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. The CDC focus national attention on developing and applying disease prevention and control (especially infectious diseases and foodborne pathogens and other microbial infections), environmental health, occupational safety and health, health promotion, injury prevention and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States. The CDC is the United States' national public health institute and is a founding member of the International Association of National Public Health Institutes.
"Can a person get Hepatitis C from a mosquito or other insect bite?
Hepatitis C virus has not been shown to be transmitted by mosquitoes or other insects. "
Hector
This was interesting, as we often wonder about those little buggers spreading blood around.
Yes, it was a good question. I would have guessed "no" to be the answer, or we would be seeing tons of Hep C in the general population, in regions where mosquitoes are common.
Is it alright to assume the same for hepatitis when it comes to an article based on HIV as they are very different diseases. So in no way a mosquito can transmit hepatitis b or c and hiv in any circumstance till this date?
THANKS A TONNE!! I feel a lot more secure with stupid mosquitoes
Yes, no research in laboratory studies have demonstrated that mosquitoes can transmit either HIV or HCV. There are other biting insects such as ticks, flies, midges, bed bugs, that can't transmit these either. Some insects are just not efficient vectors of certain diseases.
Don't feel too secure about mosquitoes, though. They are the worlds #1 killer of humans due to malaria - mostly in Africa. There are more than 20 nasty diseases that mosquitoes can transmit, but HIV and HCV are not included. If so, there would be a ton more cases of both.
So I can still get diseases from the contact I have made? and if so, what should i do to avoid this as in the situation which has occured to me?
We only know about HCV and you can't get that from a mosquito. For more questions it would be best to ask your doctor.
Following is a partial list of the more common diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. These diseases are transmitted during bloodfeeding, not when you smash their blood filled body into your skin.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/list_mosquitoborne.htm
some really good answers here....the saliva thing was great....but i would think in fact insects do sometimes spread the hcv virus...a combination of them biting and us while we are scratching and hitting........billy
Great info - always wondered! But now when one hears that lite buzzing, go indoors cause Westnile virus is about. I live in VA and had two dead crows in my lawn. Called the health department and they took the bodies and commented that my family should use repellant. Eee gads
Because hepatitis B and hepatitis C are spread by contact with infected blood, it's very tempting to think of mosquitoes as flying hypodermic needles. However, the "needle" that mosquitoes feed with, called the proboscis, is actually a complex structure that has separate channels. When a mosquito bites, it injects saliva through one channel. The saliva functions as a lubricant to help the mosquito feed easier. The blood it ***** as a meal flows in a completely separate channel and only in one direction: toward the mosquito. So, it's biologically unlikely for infected blood to be spread to another person.
But, Wait! Mosquitoes Spread Malaria and Yellow Fever. Why Not Hepatitis?
Since mosquitoes can spread some diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever, it is tempting to think they can spread other blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis. The answer is in the saliva! When a mosquito bites, it injects its own saliva into whatever it is biting. The diseases spread by mosquitoes are actually spread through the mosquito's saliva. Hepatitis, however, is spread through blood.
http://hepatitis.about.com/od/prevention/a/mosquitoes.htm