[Reading Science] How to Avoid Mosquito Bites According to the 'Mosquito Doctor'

The Season of Mosquitoes Returns
Wear Long Clothes, Use Repellents, and Bright Clothes When Going Out
Avoid Alcohol and Perfume, and Wash Frequently
Climate Warming Raises 'Humanity's Greatest Enemy'
Over 700,000 Deaths Annually, Danger Increasing

The season of mosquitoes has arrived. They are not just annoying and itchy; they have become more dangerous as the Korean Peninsula is becoming subtropical due to climate change. Mosquitoes are emerging as 'humanity's greatest enemy' by transmitting infectious diseases such as dengue fever and Zika virus. Dr. Dong-gyu Lee, a distinguished professor in the Department of Health and Environmental Engineering at Kosin University and known as the 'Mosquito Doctor' who has studied mosquitoes for 40 years, appeared on a broadcast on the 24th and said, "Mosquitoes can detect body odor from 20 meters away," adding, "People who drink alcohol, wear perfume, children with high metabolism, or those who have not washed are bitten more often by mosquitoes." To avoid mosquito bites, it is recommended to wear long sleeves and long pants during outdoor activities in the daytime and apply repellents on exposed skin. The 'Mosquito Doctor' advised wearing bright-colored clothes such as white or yellow rather than red, blue, or black.

Types of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are broadly divided into two types: house mosquitoes and forest mosquitoes. The most common is the red house mosquito from the genus Aedes, measuring 3?7mm, with colors ranging from light brown to bright brown. They are active from April to October, do not hibernate, and lay eggs in the following spring. They can transmit West Nile fever. There is also the small red house mosquito, about 4.5mm in size, characterized by a dark brown body and a white band on the proboscis. It mainly feeds at night, and the mosquito that transmits Japanese encephalitis is a type of small red house mosquito. There is also the spotted-wing house mosquito, about 6mm in size, with mottled wings.

Among forest mosquitoes, there is the golden forest mosquito, which is yellowish and about 4mm in size, commonly found in the surroundings. It has a long protruding tail. The Korean forest mosquito, nicknamed the 'Adidas mosquito,' also frequently appears in forests. It has a black body with white bands on its legs and mainly feeds during the day. The white-striped forest mosquito, which transmits dengue fever and Zika virus, is also present. It is mostly black with white stripes and is active during the day, with many small individuals measuring 2?10mm. The back-striped forest mosquito is often seen near rivers and seas. It is active at night and has a yellowish middle part of the proboscis.

Types of Mosquito-borne Infectious Diseases

According to the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment, mosquito-borne infectious diseases include yellow fever, an acute febrile illness caused by yellow fever virus infection. It is transmitted by the Egyptian forest mosquito, which does not inhabit Korea. Dengue fever caused by dengue virus infection and Zika virus infection, both transmitted by the Egyptian forest mosquito, are also well-known. West Nile fever is transmitted by house mosquitoes such as the red house mosquito and underground house mosquito, but the virus has not been detected in mosquitoes inhabiting Korea. Malaria, transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, is another disease. It is an acute febrile illness caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites. Among the Anopheles mosquitoes in Korea, six species have been confirmed to have transmission capability. Japanese encephalitis, an acute central nervous system infection disease, is transmitted by the small red house mosquito.

Image source of Aedes aegypti - CDC (Public Domain)

How to Eliminate or Avoid Mosquitoes

To control mosquitoes, eliminating their breeding grounds is the top priority. Mosquito larvae live in stagnant water, so emptying and removing such water helps control mosquitoes. Be sure to cover septic tank vents, drains, ventilation openings, and open windows with mosquito nets, and install screens on windows; repair any holes immediately. Indoors, keep windows closed and use electronic mosquito repellents, but ventilation is essential. Mosquito nets and insecticide spraying are also effective. Outdoors, applying repellents, using mosquito nets on strollers, wearing long pants, and showering after going out are ways to avoid mosquitoes.

When bitten by a mosquito, a substance called histamine is released, causing itching. It prevents blood clotting and triggers the itching sensation. Applying saliva only provides temporary relief. The best approach is to purchase and apply antihistamine medication. Do not scratch; wash with soap, and if itching persists, apply calamine lotion or cortisone cream. If an allergy develops, taking antipyretic and anti-inflammatory painkillers (ibuprofen) is recommended. When using insecticides, ensure the chemicals target mosquitoes. Mosquito coils and electronic mats should be used in enclosed spaces followed by ventilation, and caution is needed to prevent fire. Repellents should be applied directly to the skin and reapplied every 3?4 hours. Ultrasonic mosquito repellents have been proven ineffective.

Are Some People More Prone to Mosquito Bites?

Mosquitoes are attracted to sweat and foot odor, perfume scent, alcohol smell, the scent of pregnant women, and carbon dioxide. This is because they can detect carbon dioxide and the main components of sweat such as moisture, lactic acid, and amino acids. Mosquitoes are severely nearsighted, able to see only within 1 meter, but their sense of smell is so acute that they can detect lactic acid from 20 meters away and carbon dioxide from 10 meters away. Blood type or blood components do not attract mosquitoes. They prefer dark colors such as black clothing. Therefore, people who emit a lot of sweat odor, those who are large-bodied and overweight with high body heat, and children and adolescents with active metabolism are the main targets of mosquitoes.

Why Are They Becoming More Dangerous?

Mosquitoes cannot reproduce below 10 degrees Celsius and are most active around 27 degrees Celsius. However, their activity decreases again above 32 degrees Celsius. Experts are focusing on tropical mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever and Zika virus. Currently, the average winter temperature in Jeju Island and the southern coast is about 5.5 degrees Celsius, but it is rapidly rising, raising concerns about a surge in tropical disease-transmitting mosquitoes. Professor Lee stated, "Currently, about 700,000 people worldwide die annually from mosquito-borne infectious diseases such as malaria," adding, "Due to global warming, the mosquito activity period is starting earlier. Although Zika virus and dengue fever have not yet occurred in Korea, the white-striped forest mosquito that transmits these diseases lives in Korean forests." He further warned, "Currently, the temperature is low in winter, but in 50 years, as the region becomes subtropical, mosquitoes will not die in winter, allowing viruses to circulate."