Vector-borne diseases are those caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria that are transmitted by vectors, for example blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes. Mosquitoes tend to thrive in the warm, moist environments commonly found in countries located between the tropics (see Figure 1, below).
Any standing water can become stagnant, for example in discarded food cartons, tyre tracks and at construction sites, and this creates the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Two vector-borne diseases are malaria, which is mainly found in tropical regions of Africa, and dengue fever, mainly found in southeast Asia and in south and central America.
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