The deadliest animal in the world has been revealed, after the unassuming creature kills over 1,000,000 people annually.
In a world where lions, tigers and bears exist, it might be hard to believe that the deadliest animal in the world is not one of those huge predators.
In fact, the world’s deadliest animal is one that you would never assume.
It’s not strong or powerful, nor big and scary.
The animal is actually rather tiny, but is responsible for the deaths of over 1,000,000 of its victims every year.
Before noting exactly which creature is responsible for such tragedy, it’s a good idea to get some perspective on just how deadly this thing is.
Despite sharks being a go-to fear for those scared of the ocean, it’s been found that they kill around ten people per year.
Compare this to falling coconuts which claim the lives of 150 people each year – it’s pretty shocking.
But what about bears?
Despite 750,000 of them roaming around North America, they kill just one person per year, on average.
Even cows out-perform sharks and bears, which are responsible for 20-22 deaths each year that passes by.
When you think of a creature that isn’t strong or powerful, nor big and scary, but is extremely deadly, it’s only natural that the spider comes to mind.
Despite being one of the most common fears, spider bites are responsible for surprisingly few deaths each year.
Globally, it’s estimated that there are less than three spider bite deaths per year.
The same cannot be said for snakes however, which claim the lives of 140,000 people across the world each year.
But snakes still aren’t our biggest threat.
It’s actually the not-so-humble mosquito that is silently claiming the lives of over 1,000,000 people every year.
Other health studies have estimated that the figure could even be higher, reaching up to 2 to 3 million deaths each year.
We all know the insects can be overwhelmingly annoying, but what is it that makes them so deadly?
Researchers have found that they are vectors for various diseases, including malaria – which is the most deadly of all.
The disease itself kills 600,000 people every year, but its not the only infection that mosquitos carry.
The female mosquitos transmit the malarial disease to humans through their bites.
As they suck human blood, they release Plasmodium parasites into the bloodstream, where they infect and multiply inside red blood cells.
malaria mostly affects people who live in tropical areas, because the insects favour the warm, humid climate.
The most vulnerable people include young children who are yet to develop immunity, and pregnant women whose immunity has been altered due to the pregnancy.
Dengue fever is another viral infection that mosquitos can also transmit.
But its also common in tropical areas of the U.S.
Although not as severe as malaria, it’s still an unpleasant experience for those who contract it.
Despite the increasing awareness and availability of vaccinations to combat malaria, it continues to be a heavy cost for some communities and nations.
