Which one of the following is not an insect borne disease ?

Beriberi is not an insect-borne disease; it is a nutritional deficiency disorder caused by a lack of Vitamin B1 (thiamine). It is categorized under micronutrient deficiencies rather than infectious diseases. In contrast, the other options are vector-borne diseases transmitted by insects or arthropods. Malaria is a protozoan disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes [2]. Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) is transmitted by the sandfly. Plague, specifically bubonic or sylvatic plague, is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is primarily transmitted to humans by the bite of infected rat fleas [1]. While malaria, kala-azar, and plague rely on biological vectors for transmission, beriberi is strictly related to dietary intake and metabolic health.

Sources

1. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Malaria > p. 78
2. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Activity 3.4: Let us find out > p. 35