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Mosquitoes look ordinary but they are dangerous: How can they spread so many viruses?
As summer approaches, many people feel helpless about biting mosquitoes. In the appearance of these small creatures, mosquitoes seem to be just insignificant pests, but in fact, the dangers they hide make many people nervous. According to relevant research, the "yellow fever mosquito" (scientific name: Aedes aegypti) is not only a common mosquito, but also a troublemaker for many serious diseases, such as dengue fever, Zika virus, chikungunya virus, and sars virus. Yare, etc. These diseases not only affect public health, but also make epidemic prevention and control an important task of the global health system.
These mosquitoes can penetrate the skin to suck blood and metabolize viruses into the human body, causing a series of health problems. This seemingly simple behavior is actually the root cause of its becoming a viral vector.
Aedes aegypti originated in Africa but has now spread to tropical, subtropical and temperate regions around the world. This mosquito is characterized by black and white legs and harp-shaped markings on the thorax, making it easy to identify. According to statistics, the distribution of mosquitoes has continued to expand over the past few decades, making it one of the most common mosquito species in the world. Its adaptability in North, Central and South America is particularly noteworthy.
"Climate change will cause more mosquitoes to expand northward or southward, threatening global health."
Scientists' research shows that the spread speed of mosquitoes is closely related to their physiological characteristics. Female mosquitoes need to suck the blood of animals or humans in order to lay eggs, which leads to direct contact with humans. This enables them to effectively transmit the virus into the human body, further causing outbreaks of disease. When searching for a host, female mosquitoes are attracted to chemicals emitted by mammals, including ammonia, carbon dioxide and lactic acid.
Scientists have conducted in-depth research on the structure of these chemical components and found that mosquitoes prefer "right-handed" octene alcohol molecules the most, and this preference also affects their biting behavior towards humans.
In addition to spreading viruses, these mosquitoes can also carry a variety of pathogens. According to a 2022 survey, Aedes aegypti is known to be associated with 54 viruses and two malarial pathogens. The diversity of these viruses and their biological adaptability make them representative species among disease-carrying mosquitoes.
The continued proliferation and adaptation of these vectors can be explained by the reproductive capacity of mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes reproduce continuously by laying separate white eggs in the water each time they lay eggs, and the eggs can survive in a dry environment for up to a year. Due to environmental changes and accelerated urbanization, many areas with no resistance have also become victims of new viruses, and such spread poses an alarming challenge to global health.
"Never before in our history have we seen such a large mosquito species spread over such a large area in just a few decades."
In response to this challenge, countries have adopted a variety of management strategies. This includes the use of chemical repellents and innovative advances such as genetic modification. Taking genetic engineering as an example, scientists have developed mosquito strains that can self-suppress reproduction in order to reduce the mosquito population and ultimately reduce the probability of disease transmission.
There are also new biological control methods, such as the use of Wolbachia, a bacterium that can make infected mosquitoes immune to certain viruses. Studies have shown that injecting this bacteria into mosquitoes can significantly reduce the virus's ability to spread. Overall, the emergence of these methods adds hope to prevention and control work.
However, mosquitoes remain a problem because their ability to survive and adapt makes them difficult to eradicate completely.
In addition to biological control, city managers are also promoting various measures to reduce the breeding environment for mosquitoes, such as clearing stagnant water and strengthening hygiene education for residents. However, to completely solve this problem still requires continued efforts from all sectors of the world.
The spread of Aedes aegypti will only intensify under the impacts of global climate change and urbanization, making future public health challenges even more daunting. As our understanding of these little creatures grows, we may be able to more effectively control their threat. So, in the face of this invisible crisis, how should we better protect our health?
