North Carolina is home to a number of dangerous animals, including venomous snakes and spiders, alligators, sharks and stinging jellyfish.
But there's another animal that's even more deadly than any of these — and quite a bit smaller as well.
What is the world's deadliest animal?
In August, the CDC released an article calling the mosquito the world's deadliest animal, killing more people than any other creature in the world through a variety of diseases.
What diseases do mosquitoes carry?
Mosquitoes are known to carry malaria, West Nile, lymphatic filariasis, dengue, chikungunya, and zika. Each disease has its own symptoms and severity, but more than one of these could be fatal.
How many people do mosquitoes kill?
According to the WHO, vector-borne diseases (those transmitted from animals like mosquitoes) lead to more than 700,000 deaths per year.
How many mosquitoes are in North Carolina?
There are over 60 species of mosquitoes in North Carolina, according to the N.C. State Extension.
Asian tiger mosquitoes are the "state's worst mosquito species," the extension notes. "It is of particular concern because it can spread diseases to humans and animals, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, as well as heartworms to dogs and cats."
How many people in North Carolina were infected by mosquitoes?
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), more than 900 cases of tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses were reported statewide in 2024.
The organization announced its "Fight the Bite" campaign in April.
"The mosquito-borne diseases most often acquired in North Carolina are West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and La Crosse encephalitis," NCDHHS said. "Nationally, North Carolina was second to only Ohio in reported cases of infections from La Crosse virus between 2003 and 2023."
On July 30, the NCDHHS announced the first case of West Nile virus in 2025. According to the CDC, North Carolina has reported 5 total cases this year.
How to keep mosquitoes away from your house
Mosquitoes love standing water, so address anything that may collect water such as cups, tarps, open garbage cans, etc. Old tires are particularly common larval habitats. Make sure any drainage ditches are free of overgrown grass or any other obstructions preventing the flow of water.
NCDHHS recommends that people use an EPA-registered insect repellant when outdoors and wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin. It also recommends wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
What are the best mosquito repellents to use?
According to the CDC,repellentswith the following active ingredients typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or PMD: "Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus specifies that they should not to be used on children under the age of 3."
- IR3535
- 2-undecanone
Can some plants repel mosquitoes?
While some residents have been told to plant marigolds, catnip, and other plants in their yard to repel mosquitoes, this doesn't seem to be a full-proof plan. In a story by Consumer Reports, multiple entomologists acknowledged that plants like these may have chemical compounds that deter insects, but it won't be enough to make any real impact.
Joel Coats from Iowa State University clarified that the compounds prevent insects from feeding on them, but those chemicals aren't released into the air. Sarah Moore of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute said these plants wouldn't even be effective if you rubbed their oils into your skin.
Charlie Kingree is a reporting intern at the StarNews. You can reach him at ckingree@gannett.com. Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today.
