World Mosquito Day commemorates Sir Ronald Ross’ 1897 discovery of the link between mosquitoes and malaria transmission, the event raises awareness about the threat of malaria and other diseases transmitted by the world’s deadliest animal.

WHO and partners will mark World Malaria Day by celebrating the achievements of countries that are approaching – and achieving – malaria elimination.

World Mosquito Day, observed annually on 20 August, is a commemoration of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female anopheline mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans, thus confirming the mosquito-malaria theory, an idea that had been building in recent years through the work of various contributors such as Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran and Patrick Manson.