The dictionary states the definition as âin a literal way or senseâ but adds that, informally, it can be âused for emphasis rather than being actually trueâ such as âwe were literally killing ourselves laughingâ. The definition was added in the September 2011 edition, but went unnoticed until this week.
Strictly speaking, it is not AIDS but HIV that spreads through blood, semen and from a mother to child. Mosquitoes cannot transmit HIV for two reasons. Firstly, when the mosquito bites with its probosis, it draws blood and injects saliva, which contains antiviral factors and immunoglobulins and hence cannot transmit HIV. The blood from one person is not injected into the mosquito's next victim.
Many people do not realize that mosquitoes are vectors of several human diseases including malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue, and filariasis. Mosquitoes spread West Nile virus from birds to people and horses. Adult mosquitoes are slender, long-legged insects.They have round heads and long, slender wings.When they are resting, the wings lie flat on the insectâs back. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on honeydew, nectar, and plant juices.osquitoes spread West Nile virus from birds to people and horses. Adult mosquitoes are slender, long-legged insects. They have round heads and long, slender wings. When they are resting, the wings lie flat on the insectâs back. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on honeydew, nectar, and plant juices.