"Mosquitoes May Thrive Year-Round by 2050 Due to Climate Change"
Myth That Mosquitoes Prefer Blood Type O Is NO
A warning has been issued that mosquitoes could be rampant all year round after 2050 due to climate change.
Lee Dong-gyu, Chair Professor of the Department of Health and Environment at Kosin University, said on the 23rd on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that regarding the recent surge in mosquitoes, "Mosquitoes can generally fly when the temperature is above 13 degrees Celsius. In theory, mosquitoes can appear even in spring."
However, he said that the early appearance is considerably faster compared to other countries. Professor Lee explained, "It has advanced by more than 50 days in the past 20 years," adding, "This is because Korea's climate shows a higher average temperature than the global average." In the case of the United States, it has advanced by about 40 days compared to 40 years ago, but in Korea, it has advanced by more than 50 days in just 20 years.
Professor Lee said, "According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast, there is a high possibility that a subtropical climate will appear after 2050. If that happens, winters will also be above 10 degrees Celsius. Mosquitoes could be rampant all year round."
Regarding the myth that people who drink beer, pregnant women, and those with blood type O are bitten more often, Professor Lee said, "When people drink a lot of alcohol, metabolic processes break it down and produce many metabolites in the body," adding, "Mosquitoes smell these and are attracted to people who drink alcohol more." He explained that the same applies to pregnant women. "Because they are carrying a baby, their metabolic activity is higher than others, so they secrete more substances from their bodies. Mosquitoes smell this and are attracted to them."
However, he denied the myth that mosquitoes prefer blood type O. Professor Lee explained, "It has nothing to do with blood type. Mosquitoes cannot know blood type O outside," adding, "It is just that among people with blood type O, those who are more active sweat more, and mosquitoes are attracted by such factors."
Professor Lee emphasized that to repel mosquitoes, one should apply repellent to exposed skin. He also added, "Mosquitoes mostly enter homes through window screens. Window screens have seams that must fit perfectly. If not, gaps form and mosquitoes can get in."
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