What would you say about the world's most dangerous animal? Sharks? Tigers? How about crocodiles?
Although these apex predators are fearsome killers, the world's most dangerous animal, year after year, is actually a much smaller species – the mosquito.
Here are some of the world's most dangerous animals.
16. Ascaris roundworm: 2,500 deaths per year
The deadly agent here is a parasite. That is, an animal species that lives on or within another species (the host) and causes harm to that species.
The roundworms or ascaris mentioned here are parasites, not just disease vectors like mosquitoes. Ascaris roundworms are transmitted when a person accidentally ingests their eggs, unfortunately, often through food or drink contaminated with human feces.
They are considered one of the deadliest parasites in the world: terrifying, tiny creatures that can haunt your dreams. These worms reside in the small intestine and use the human body to live, feed, and reproduce. The disease caused by roundworms is called roundworm disease, characterized by fever, abdominal pain, swelling, difficulty breathing, and kills approximately 2,500 people each year.
15. Sharks: 6 deaths per year
Shark attacks on humans are quite rare. In 2014, there were only about 3 deaths worldwide due to shark attacks, and in 2015, that number increased to 6.
14. Wolves: 10 deaths per year
Areas inhabited by wolves generally experience fewer wolf attacks. Statistics show that: " In the 50 years leading up to 2002, there were very few wolf attacks in Europe and North America. Although in some parts of India there were several hundred reports of wolf attacks in the past 20 years, the average was 10 cases per year . "
13. Lions: over 22 deaths per year
Estimates of lion-related fatalities vary considerably from year to year. A 2005 study indicated: " Since 1990, lions have attacked 563 people in Tanzania alone, averaging around 22 attacks per year. There are also fatalities outside of Tanzania, making it difficult to determine an exact global figure ."
12. Elephants: 500 deaths per year
Elephants are also responsible for many fatalities each year. According to a 2005 National Geographic article: " More than 500 people die each year from elephant attacks. But a significant number of elephants are also killed by humans ."
11. Hippopotamuses: 500 deaths per year
For a long time, hippos were considered the most dangerous animals in Africa. They were known for their aggressive behavior towards humans, such as capsizing boats.
9. Tapeworm: Kills 700 people annually
Tapeworms are parasitic organisms that commonly infect humans with a disease called cysticerosis , which can be the cause of death for around 700 people each year.
10. Crocodiles: 1,000 deaths per year
Crocodiles don't necessarily hunt humans, but they are opportunistic killers. In Africa alone, there are hundreds of crocodile attacks on humans each year, with one-third to one-half resulting in death, depending on the species. Many incidents occur in small communities and go unreported.
Worldwide, it is estimated that crocodiles kill around 1,000 people each year, far more than sharks.
American alligators, a species found only in the wild in the United States and China, are less aggressive than alligators but can still be dangerous. According to the state of Florida, 22 people have been killed by alligators since 1948.
8. Ascariasis (roundworm infection): 4,500 deaths per year
Ascariasis, or roundworm infection, is a parasitic worm that lives in the small intestine of humans, especially children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , approximately one-quarter of the world's population is infected with roundworms, causing abdominal pain and sometimes intestinal and bile duct obstruction. A 2013 study indicated that " around 4,500 deaths occur each year due to roundworm infections ."
7. Tsetse Fly: 10,000 deaths per year
Tsetse flies , or tsetse flies, are a species of tropical African fly that carries and transmits a disease called sleeping sickness when they bite humans and animals. This parasitic infection initially presents with headaches, fever, joint pain, and itching, but can later cause relatively serious neurological symptoms. Current reports indicate a decline in deaths from this disease. Approximately 10,000 new cases are detected each year, and the annual death toll is estimated to decrease.
6. Assassin bugs: 12,000 deaths per year
Assassin bugs , also known as kissing bugs , cause Chagas disease , which can be fatal to around 12,000 people each year. Chagas disease is a tropical parasitic disease spread primarily by insects called kissing bugs. Symptoms vary depending on the stage of the disease.
5. Freshwater snails: 20,000 deaths per year
Freshwater snails carry parasitic worms that infect humans with a disease called schistosomiasis . This disease is transmitted through contaminated water sources where numerous schistosomiasis larvae swim freely, penetrating the skin and entering the human body to cause infection. Schistosomiasis causes severe abdominal pain, damage to the urinary tract, and blood in the urine; in more severe cases, it can lead to bladder cancer. According to the World Health Organization, millions of people worldwide have contracted this disease, and approximately 20,000 out of 200,000 infected individuals may die from schistosomiasis.
4. Dogs: 35,000 deaths per year
Dogs – especially those infected with rabies – are among the most dangerous animals in the world, although rabies is preventable with a vaccine. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 35,000 deaths from rabies, and about 99% of those cases are caused by dogs.
3. Snakes: 100,000 deaths per year
In 2015 alone, snake bites killed over 100,000 people worldwide. Even more sadly, we still face a significant shortage of antivenom.
2. Humans: 437,000 deaths per year
According to statistics from the UNODC ( United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ), in 2012 there were approximately 437,000 intentional homicides – making humans the second most dangerous " animal " in the world ( and the most dangerous of all mammals ). We ourselves are not the most formidable enemy – but the people around us.
1. Mosquitoes: 750,000 deaths per year
Mosquitoes – a nasty insect that sucks blood and transmits viruses from person to person – are the most dangerous animals in the world.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than half of malaria deaths are caused by mosquitoes, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, although that number has decreased. The incidence of malaria has fallen by 37% between 2000 and 2015.
Dengue fever , also a mosquito-borne disease, is a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in Asian and Latin American countries.
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