Mosquitoes’ taste for human blood may grow as African cities expand

Mosquitoes’ taste for human blood may grow as African cities expand

4 years ago
Anonymous $-9GJQVHNr8

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/mosquitoes-taste-human-blood-may-grow-african-cities-expand

Where water is scarce, Aedes mosquitoes mingle more with humans.

In most of the world, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is notorious for biting humans and spreading dengue, Zika, and other viruses. But in Africa, where the mosquito is native, most Aedes prefer to suck blood from other animals, such as monkeys and rodents. A new study suggests, though, that their taste for humans may rapidly expand—and with it their ability to spread disease.

Mosquitoes’ taste for human blood may grow as African cities expand

May 12, 2020, 8:14pm UTC
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/mosquitoes-taste-human-blood-may-grow-african-cities-expand > Where water is scarce, Aedes mosquitoes mingle more with humans. > In most of the world, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is notorious for biting humans and spreading dengue, Zika, and other viruses. But in Africa, where the mosquito is native, most Aedes prefer to suck blood from other animals, such as monkeys and rodents. A new study suggests, though, that their taste for humans may rapidly expand—and with it their ability to spread disease.