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What causes the itch in mozzie bites? And why do some people get such a bad reaction?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Are you one of these people who loathes spending time outdoors at dusk as the weather warms and mosquitoes start biting? Female mosquitoes <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-ento-120811-153618">need blood</a> to develop their eggs. Even though they take a tiny amount of our blood, they can leave us with itchy red lumps that can last days. And sometimes something worse. So why does our body react and itch after being bitten by a mosquito? And why are some people more affected than others? <h2>What happens when a mosquito bites?</h2> Mosquitoes are attracted to warm blooded animals, including us. They’re attracted to the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/abs/role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-hostfinding-by-mosquitoes-diptera-culicidae-a-review/2506B86EF63852B2D02EC3FCEE1E3B8B">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale, our body temperatures and, most importantly, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-08/mosquitoes-climate-change-skin/104548122">the smell of our skin</a>. The <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/parasitology/abstract/S1471-4922(21)00237-3">chemical cocktail</a> of odours from bacteria and sweat on our skin <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00532-8">sends out a signal</a> to hungry mosquitoes. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000522">Some people’s</a> skin smells more appealing to mosquitoes, and they’re more likely to be bitten than others. Once the mosquito has made its way to your skin, things get a little gross. The mosquito pierces your skin with their “proboscis”, their feeding mouth part. But the proboscis isn’t a single, straight, needle-like tube. There are multiple tubes, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/07/480653821/watch-mosquitoes-use-6-needles-to-suck-your-blood">some designed</a> for sucking and some for spitting. Once their mouth parts have been inserted into your skin, the mosquito will inject some saliva. This contains a mix of chemicals that gets the blood flowing better. There has even been a suggestion that future medicines could be inspired by the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2018/03/29/mosquito-saliva-vital-to-the-discovery-of-future-drugs.html">anti-blood clotting properties</a> of mosquito saliva. It’s not the stabbing of our skin by the mosquito’s mouth parts that hurts, it’s the mozzie spit our bodies don’t like. <h2>Are some people allergic to mosquito spit?</h2> Once a mosquito has injected their saliva into our skin, a variety of reactions can follow. For the lucky few, nothing much happens at all. For most people, and irrespective of the type of mosquito biting, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1024559/full">there is some kind of reaction</a>. Typically there is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161589023002304?via%3Dihub">redness and swelling of the skin</a> that appears within a few hours, but often more quickly, after just a few minutes. Occasionally, the reaction can cause pain or discomfort. Then comes the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2023-01-20/mosquito-bites-itchy-calamine-heat-ice-antihistamine-toothpaste/101652608">itchiness</a>. Some people do suffer severe reactions to mosquito bites. It’s a condition often referred to as “<a href="https://www.webmd.com/allergies/what-is-skeeter-syndrome">skeeter syndrome</a>” and is an allergic reaction caused by the protein in the mosquito’s saliva. This can cause large areas of swelling, blistering and fever. The chemistry of mosquito spit hasn’t really been well studied. But it has been shown that, for those who do suffer allergic reactions to their bites, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674904022183">reactions may differ</a> depending on the type of mosquito biting. We all probably get more tolerant of mosquito bites as we get older. Young children are certainly more likely to suffer more following mosquito bites. But as we get older, the reactions are less severe and may pass quickly without too much notice. <h2>How best to treat the bites?</h2> Research into treating bites <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0161589023002304">has yet to provide</a> a single easy solution. There are many <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/outdoor-health/home-remedies-for-mosquito-bites">myths and home remedies</a> about what works. But there is little scientific evidence supporting their use. The best way to treat mosquito bites is by applying a cold pack to reduce swelling and to keep the skin clean to avoid any secondary infections. Antiseptic creams and lotions may also help. There is some evidence that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10309056/">heat may alleviate</a> some of the discomfort. It’s particularly tough to keep young children from scratching at the bite and breaking the skin. This can form a nasty scab that may end up being worse than the bite itself. Applying an anti-itch cream may help. If the reactions are severe, <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/insect-bites-and-stings">antihistamine medications</a> may be required. <h2>To save the scratching, stop the bites</h2> Of course, it’s better not to be bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Topical <a href="https://theconversation.com/insect-repellents-work-but-there-are-other-ways-to-beat-mosquitoes-without-getting-sticky-171805">insect repellents</a> are a safe, effective and affordable way to reduce mosquito bites. Covering up with loose fitted long sleeved shirts, long pants and covered shoes also provides a physical barrier. <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-mosquito-coils-good-or-bad-for-our-health-88548">Mosquito coils and other devices</a> can also assist, but should not be entirely relied on to stop bites. There’s another important reason to avoid mosquito bites: millions of people around the world suffer from mosquito-borne diseases. More than <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria">half a million people die</a> from malaria each year. In Australia, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005070">Ross River virus</a> infects more than 5,000 people every year. And in recent years, there have been cases of serious illnesses caused by <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/how-rains-pigs-and-waterbirds-fueled-shocking-disease-outbreak-australia">Japanese encephalitis</a> and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1256149/full">Murray Valley encephalitis</a> viruses. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-causes-the-itch-in-mozzie-bites-and-why-do-some-people-get-such-a-bad-reaction-243044">original article</a>.

Body

It’s warming up and mozzies are coming. Here’s how to mosquito-proof your backyard

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> The weather is warming up and that means more time in the backyard. It also means more mosquitoes. Here are five ways you can mosquito-proof your backyard that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-battle-against-bugs-its-time-to-end-chemical-warfare-111629">don’t rely on spraying insecticides</a>. <h2>1. Get rid of water</h2> Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycles. They <a href="https://theconversation.com/feel-like-youre-a-mozzie-magnet-its-true-mosquitoes-prefer-to-bite-some-people-over-others-128788">need blood</a> – but water and warmth are just as important. Getting rid of water around your backyard will go a long way to keeping mosquitoes away. Water trapped in blocked roof gutters, drains and tarpaulin covering boats and trailers can be a great home for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can exploit the tiniest of water sources too. It may just be the upturned lid of a discarded plastic drink bottle. If it traps water, mosquitoes will find it and lay eggs in it. Flush out your bird bath once a week to disrupt the mosquito’s life cycle. If you have a pond, installing a fountain will discourage mosquitoes. If you can’t keep water clean and circulating, consider filling it with sand and gravel to create an interesting garden bed for succulents or other plants. Mosquitoes will avoid clean and chlorinated swimming pools but will quickly move into “green pools”. If you’re not using your pool, consider <a href="https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Your-local-environment/Wildlife/Living-with-wildlife/Pool-to-pond/How-to-convert-your-pool">converting it to a “pond”</a> so that fish can help keep mosquito numbers down. <h2>2. Screen up – windows, doors and rainwater tanks</h2> If you can’t get rid of permanent water, at least stop mosquitoes getting to it (or you). Ensure <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/water/water-smart-homes/rainwater-tanks/using-your-rainwater-tank">rainwater and septic tanks</a> have screens to stop mosquitoes entering. Screen windows and doors to stop mosquitoes entering the home. There are plenty of flexible screening options for windows, doors and balconies. If you live in a mosquito-prone area, creating a screened outdoor area (such as a pergola, courtyard, or balcony) will give you the opportunity to spend time outdoors without being hassled by mozzies. <h2>3. Choose your garden plants carefully</h2> Some plants <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-the-American-Mosquito-Control-Association/volume-25/issue-3/09-0016.1/Are-Commercially-Available-Essential-Oils-from-Australian-Native-Plants-Repellent/10.2987/09-0016.1.short">contain essential oils and other chemicals</a> that, when extracted and concentrated, provide protection against biting mosquitoes. But there isn’t a lot of evidence that the whole plant will keep mosquitoes away from your garden. Some types of plants are even marketed as “mozzie blockers” or “mosquito repelling”. But there isn’t <a href="https://www.veranda.com/outdoor-garden/a40592197/do-mosquito-repelling-plants-work/">any evidence of effectiveness</a>. In fact, some of these plants, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2009.00736.x">such as melaleucas</a>, also happen to be associated with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/36/4/515/903838">hot spots of mosquito breeding</a> in coastal Australia. The plants to avoid around the home are those that help mosquitoes breed, such as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2008.00641.x">bromeliads</a>, which trap water. <h2>4. Encourage the animals that eat mosquitoes</h2> Mosquitoes are food for a range of animals including birds, bats, fish, frogs, lizards, insects, spiders and <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2656.13965">dragonflies</a>. But don’t expect them to eat enough to keep all mosquitoes away. Bats are often promoted as a good “biological control” options but studies have shown mosquitoes are <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0077183">more likely to be a snack food</a> for small bats, not an irresistible staple of their diet. For garden ponds, frogs will eat a few adult mosquitoes but tadpoles of Australian frogs generally <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-21/issue-4/8756-971X(2006)21%5b492%3aTOFCAF%5d2.0.CO%3b2/TADPOLES-OF-FOUR-COMMON-AUSTRALIAN-FROGS-ARE-NOT-EFFECTIVE-PREDATORS/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)21%5B492:TOFCAF%5D2.0.CO;2.short">don’t eat many mosquito “wrigglers”</a>. Australian native fish <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15532929/">will readily eat mosquitoes</a> and may be useful for backyard ponds. But not all fish are good. While “mosquitofish” (aka “plague minnow”) is distributed overseas to assist in mosquito control, <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article/30/3/316/134508/Does-predation-by-the-fish-Gambusia-holbrooki">it’s a disaster for local wildlife</a> and, <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquatic-biosecurity/pests-diseases/freshwater-pests/finfish-species/gambusia">along with other exotic fish species</a>, should not be released into local waterways. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-019-01133-2">Healthier habitats promote fewer mosquitoes</a> so the best thing you can do is create habitats for the animals that eat mosquitoes. <h2>5. Avoid traps and other gadgets</h2> There are lots of devices purported to catch, kill, or repel mosquitoes from your garden. Some may catch a mosquito or two but they’re not very effective in knocking out big numbers. “Bug zappers” with bright lights will collect lots of flying insects. It’s just that mosquitoes make up a very small proportion of collections. Electrocuting devices, again, don’t seem to attract a lot of mosquitoes. Devices that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-buzz-from-your-smartphone-wont-stop-mosquito-bites-92611">emit high frequency sounds</a> won’t help either. The best devices are typically those that are baited with carbon dioxide. These are a mainstay of state and territory <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/mosquito-borne/Pages/surveillance.aspx">mosquito and arbovirus surveillance programs</a>. For a mosquito, the C0₂ tricks them into thinking the trap is a warm-blooded animal. The only problem is these can be expensive to run and don’t seem quite as effective for mosquito control <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-22/issue-3/8756-971X(2006)22%5b490%3aTATTFA%5d2.0.CO%3b2/Traps-and-Trapping-Techniques-for-Adult-Mosquito-Control/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)22%5B490:TATTFA%5D2.0.CO;2.short">unless used in large numbers</a>. <h2>Yes, you’ll still need repellent</h2> Perhaps the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to pick an insect repellent <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/december-2016-volume-26-issue-5/a-review-of-recommendations-on-the-safe-and-effective-use-of-topical-mosquito-repellents/">recommended by health authorities</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/mozzies-biting-heres-how-to-choose-a-repellent-and-how-to-use-it-for-the-best-protection-150183">apply it</a> to ensure all exposed areas of skin are covered. These products and safe, affordable and effective.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212711/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-warming-up-and-mozzies-are-coming-heres-how-to-mosquito-proof-your-backyard-212711">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

The cost of living is biting. Here’s how to spend less on meat and dairy

Food & Wine

8 bite-sized renovations you can do on the weekend

We’re all time poor but that doesn’t mean you have to develop renovation inertia. By chunking down the big tasks you need to do around your home into bite-sized, weekend-worthy nibbles you can power through a number of renovation items piece by manageable piece. 1. Replace your handles Upgrading your old, tired <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/why-reddit-is-losing-it-over-doorknobs-20160323-gnpe5q/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">door handles</a> is as simple as measuring the distance between the holes and searching online or in store to find a straight replace. Unscrew the old ones, hanging onto the existing screws, as otherwise you may have to cut the ones supplied with the new handles to size, and screw the new ones in place. Simple. 2. Changing cupboard fronts A wonderful visual upgrade, you need to check that your kitchen has standard-sized cupboards for this to be an easy weekend upgrade. Standard cupboard and drawer sizes will have plenty of options in stores and online. You’ll need to check the location of hinges, the height and width of fronts and the condition of your carcasses but by unscrewing and replacing cupboards you can transform your kitchen or bathroom cabinets completely. You’ll find some <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/cabinet-fever-on-the-rise-20120706-21kkk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interesting colour, texture and pattern options</a> The only impediment is your creativity. 3. Paint your doors While painting your whole home might be a bit more than you can manage in one sitting, a nice bite-sized job is to apply a couple of coats of <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/for-the-love-of-the-coloured-front-door-20151127-gl5boi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coloured paint to your existing internal and external doors</a>. Sure, you might not get through them all in one weekend but you can chip away at this task after work or in the mornings and add amazing contrast and interest to your interior scheme. Remember to use an enamel paint for doors and timber work. 4. Replace your shower head and toilet seats One of the things I do routinely when moving into a new property is replace the shower head with a new one. Most replacement shower heads come with thread tape and you don’t need to be a plumber to do this straight replace as it doesn’t interrupt the fitting connection. If you can manage that the toilet seat replacement is a cinch. 5. Regrouting tiles Scrape out any old or worn grout and replace with a new colour or a replacement of the existing. A word to the wise – don’t grout floors in white as they will be mid grey in no time. 6. Replace bathroom accessories Another quick trip to the hardware store or bathroom supplier and you can <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/budget-bathroom-makeovers-can-make-big-difference-20150703-gi12es/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">give your bathroom a facelift</a> to complement that lovely new shower head. 7. Fill gaps and scrapes There are different fillers for different tasks. A quick-dry, all-purpose one like Selley’s Rapid Filler is great for scratches and scrapes on walls or filling in bumps in timber work before painting. Fill gaps between skirtings, cornices and walls with no more gaps. Use a two-part filler like builders bog for areas that need a more hard-wearing but still sandable solution. 8. Remove redundant “features” and install new ones Pulling out old, dated or worn shelving and storage cabinets can free up wall space and liberate your rooms from a tired look. Installing wall hung units or floating shelves can give you an opportunity to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/advice/moving-house-how-to-let-it-go-declutter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clear your home of clutter</a> or create a place for you to best display your favourite items. Images and extract from HomeSpace and Easy Luxury by Darren Palmer (Murdoch Books, RRP $39.95 each), with photography by Felix Forest. Written by Darren Palmer. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain.com.au.</a> Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

Young woman loses all four limbs to mozzie bites

A woman has shared her story of waking up from a coma to discover all four of her limbs had been amputated. Tatiana Timon, 35, was on a dream trip to Angola, South Africa, as part of a dance group, but her health took a turn for the worse when she arrived back home in Camberwell, South London. The 35-year-old had spent 10 days in Angola before flying home and within days her health had declined, leaving her extremely weak. Tatiana was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed she had contracted a deadly form of malaria. She had contracted the disease from a mosquito bite while overseas in May 2022. Her condition quickly worsened and she was put into an induced coma after developing sepsis. “All of my friends and family were worried because the doctor was telling them that I was going to die, like I was about to die three times", she told MyLondon. In order to stop blood poisoning from spreading to her vital organs, doctors were forced to amputate all four limbs. “When I woke up from the coma I knew, I saw that I was in hospital, and I knew something had happened to me", she said. “At that time I didn’t know how bad it was, like I just knew something had happened.” Tatiana says she strives to come independent and is fitted with prosthetic arms and legs. She shares frequent updates on her Instagram page and vows to stay positive during this hard time. "Now even without limbs I know that I will go back to the gym”, she wrote on one post. “I am determined to go back to being my healthy self, mentally and physically.” Tatiana is currently fundraising with hopes of buying new prosthetics which come with a hefty price tag, costing up to $294,100. “A negative thing I can turn into a positive thing to make my life easier because I don’t like to stress. “It happened, so I need to deal with it.” Image credit: Instagram/Facebook

Body

How to make your own mosquito trap

Nothing ruins a good time like a swarm of hungry mosquitos. Keep the outdoor fun going longer with this easy DIY mosquito trap. You will need: <ul> <li>An empty 2 litre plastic bottle</li> <li>A marker</li> <li>A box cutter</li> <li>A tape measurer</li> <li>¼ cup of brown sugar</li> <li>1 cup of hot water</li> <li>1 gram of yeast</li> <li>Duct/electrical tape</li> </ul> How to: 1. About 10cm from the lid, make a mark around the bottle. 2. Using your box cutter, cut the bottle in half at your mark. 3. In a saucepan, boil your water until steaming. 4. In the lower half of the bottle, add brown sugar and boiling water. Let cool. 5. Once cooled, add yeast. Stirring isn’t necessary. 6. Take the top of the bottle, flipping it upside down, and fit it into the base of the bottle, leaving enough room above the mixture for mosquitos to enter. If there isn’t, pour out some mixture. 7. Use tape to secure the cut edges at the top. 8. Place wherever your mosquito problem resides. The mosquitos will be attracted to the sugar mixture and not be able to fly back out of the trap. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

Why mozzies bite some more than others

While summer brings with it days on the beach and nights outside enjoying the balmy weather, another, more unpleasant summer fixture also comes out in droves: mosquitoes. Although some of us dread being covered in itchy bites, there are others who mosquitoes seem to ignore - and now scientists have part of the answer explaining why. Researchers from Rockefeller University have found that mosquitoes are attracted to people based on the smell of their skin, created through a blend of particular acids. Focusing on Aedes aegypti, the mosquito which carries viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika virus, the team used samples of human forearm odour collected on nylon stockings from 64 people, performing more than 2300 tests over 174 days across a three-year study. They found that people who were highly attractive to the mosquitoes had significantly higher levels of carboxylic acids which contribute to their skin odour. These carboxylic acids are produced when bacteria on the skin breaks down steroids and cholesterol secreted by our sweat glands. "We tested mosquito attraction to human skin odour and identified people who are exceptionally attractive or unattractive to mosquitoes," they wrote. "Chemical analysis revealed that highly attractive people produce significantly more carboxylic acids in their skin [than others]." They also noted that there weren’t any chemicals found in higher levels on the skin of less attractive people and argued that this supports the idea that people’s skin lack attractive odours, rather than emitting an odour that repels mosquitoes. As for why some people have higher levels of these chemicals in their skin odour than others, the researchers suggested that genetics may play a role. "Understanding why some humans are more attractive than others provides insights into what skin odorants are most important to the mosquito and could inform the development of more effective ... repellents," they wrote. The study, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cell</a>, isn’t the first time scientists have attempted to understand why some people are more attractive to mozzies than others - and there are plenty of reasons why. Mosquito researcher Dr Cameron Webb from the University of Sydney told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-19/nt-mosquitoes-study/101548550" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a> it could be to do with genetics, as well as your temperature, your diet, whether you’re sweaty or even whether you’re pregnant. Dr Gordana Rasic, a senior mosquito research officer at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland, explained that the factors driving the behaviour of mozzies are “very complex”. "Mosquito brains are small but they still process signals from hundreds and hundreds of different receptors," she said. "Biting humans is specific to female mosquitoes — they need to bite humans and take blood in order to develop their egg and basically reproduce — so it's an absolutely essential instinct." While this study adds a new piece to the puzzle of mozzie behaviour, Dr Webb noted that this study focused on one mosquito species out of thousands of species around the world. "Even if you solve the problem for one mosquito, that doesn't mean the relationship and their willingness to bite people applies to all of the mozzies," he said. Image: Getty Images

Body

Tragedy as Aussie boy dies from mosquito bite

A nine-year-old boy from Western Australia has tragically died from dengue fever while on holiday with his family. Glenn Pulgadas had been on holiday with his parents, Glenn and Ryza, in the Philippines to see extended family when he was bitten by a mosquito. According to the <a title="www.abc.net.au" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-30/wa-boy-dies-dengue-fever-in-philippines-warning-travellers/101386032">ABC</a>, the boy began feeling unwell on August 12th and was admitted to hospital. He was described as being “weak in appearance” with headaches, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and nose bleeds. Glenn then went into dengue shock syndrome which typically includes clamminess, a rapid weak pulse and narrowing of pulse pressure. These symptoms then led to organ failure, with Glenn tragically passing away on August 25th. The young boy is being remembered as "bright and bubbly" by all who knew him. “Glenn was a bright, bubbly, young boy who was so full of life and always had a smile on his face,” said family friend Danielle Zarzycki. Glenn's hometown community of Harvey has launched a <a title="www.gofundme.com" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/glenn-pulgadas-memorial">GoFundMe</a> page to raise money for funeral expenses which has so far reached more than $9000. One of the top donators, who gave $1,000 to Glenn's family, is local St Anne’s School, where Glenn was a year three student. Dengue fever is spread via the bite of some species of mosquito. Three out of four people who contract dengue won’t even get sick, and for those who do the symptoms can be mild and they often recover in a matter of days. About one in 20 people who become sick with dengue will be hit by a severe form and in the worst cases, the disease can lead to shock, internal bleeding and death. Image credits: Facebook

Caring

Where do all the mosquitoes go in the winter?

Summer evenings by the pool, lake or BBQ mean mosquitoes. But what about during winter when we’re mostly indoors? As the weather cools, these bloodsucking pests are rarely seen. But where do they go? Warm, wet conditions suit mosquitoes Mosquitoes have complex life cycles that rely on water brought to <a href="https://theconversation.com/hidden-housemates-the-mosquitoes-that-battle-for-our-backyards-59072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wetlands, flood plains, and water-holding containers</a> by seasonal rainfall. Depending on whether we’re experiencing a summer under the influence of <a href="https://theconversation.com/will-the-arrival-of-el-nino-mean-fewer-mosquitoes-this-summer-102496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">El Niño</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/la-nina-will-give-us-a-wet-summer-thats-great-weather-for-mozzies-147180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Niña</a>, mosquito populations will change in different ways. During warmer months, their life cycle lasts about a month. Eggs laid around water hatch and the immature mosquitoes go through four developmental stages. Larvae then change to pupae, from which an adult mosquito emerges, sits briefly on the water surface, and then flies off to buzz and bite and continue the cycle. Water is crucial but temperature is really important too. Unlike warm-blooded animals, mosquitoes can’t control their own body temperatures. The warmer it is, the more active mosquitoes will be. There’s usually more of them about too. But once cold weather arrives, their activity slows. They fly less, they don’t bite as often, they reproduce less, and their life cycle takes longer to complete. Temperature also plays a role in determining the ability of mosquitoes to <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.584846/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spread viruses</a>. Cold weather isn’t great for mosquitoes but <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">millions of years of evolution</a> have given them a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2235-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">few tricks to survive</a>. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/468677/original/file-20220614-21-qmcj4w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C43%2C4883%2C3211&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/468677/original/file-20220614-21-qmcj4w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/468677/original/file-20220614-21-qmcj4w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/468677/original/file-20220614-21-qmcj4w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/468677/original/file-20220614-21-qmcj4w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/468677/original/file-20220614-21-qmcj4w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/468677/original/file-20220614-21-qmcj4w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>Ponds and puddles may be frozen but that doesn’t mean all mosquitoes have disappeared. <a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/7UYnlgDyf0o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Keldenich/Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> Mosquitoes don’t disappear completely On a sunny afternoon in winter, you may notice the occasional mosquito buzzing about in your backyard. Not as many as in summer but they’re still around. Some mosquitoes do disappear. For example, the activity of the pest mosquito Culex annulirostris, thought to play an important role in the <a href="https://theconversation.com/japanese-encephalitis-virus-has-been-detected-in-australian-pigs-can-mozzies-now-spread-it-to-humans-178017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spread of Japanese encephalitis virus</a> in Australia, dramatically declines when temperatures start dropping <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1442-9993.1980.tb01260.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">below 17.5℃</a>. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aen.12021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies in Sydney</a> have shown some mosquitoes, such as Culex annulirostris, disappear. Others, such as Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex molestus, remain active throughout the winter. You just may not notice them (unless they enter your home to buzz about your ears). <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/469917/original/file-20220621-17-k6jyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/469917/original/file-20220621-17-k6jyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469917/original/file-20220621-17-k6jyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469917/original/file-20220621-17-k6jyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469917/original/file-20220621-17-k6jyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469917/original/file-20220621-17-k6jyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469917/original/file-20220621-17-k6jyri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>Some mosquitoes, such as the common Aedes notoscriptus, may occasionally be seen buzzing about in winter. Cameron Webb/NSW Health Pathology</figcaption></figure> Mosquitoes can disappear into diapause We’re familiar with the idea of mammals hibernating through winter but mosquitoes, like many other insects, can enter a phase of inactivity called <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eea.12753" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diapause</a>. Once cold weather arrives, adult mosquitoes find hiding places such as tree hollows and animal burrows, within the cracks and crevices of bushland environments, or in garages, basements or other structures around our homes, suburbs and cities. These mosquitoes may only live a few weeks during summer but going into diapause allows them to survive many months through winter. Mosquitoes can also be found in frozen bodies of water, whether it is a bucket of water in your backyard or a near freezing wetland. For example, there is a group of mosquitoes that belong to the genus Coquillettidia whose <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvec.12338" target="_blank" rel="noopener">larvae attach</a> to the submerged parts of aquatic plants and can survive the cold winter temperatures. Their development dramatically slows and they’ll stay in the water until spring arrives. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/469888/original/file-20220621-11-eny4r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>By going into ‘diapause’ adults can survive in places like tree hollows for the cold months. <a class="source" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1625635756778-218152037ccc?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1770&q=80" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unsplash/Pat Whelan</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> All their eggs in one winter basket Some mosquitoes make it through the winter thanks to their eggs. Mosquito eggs can be incredibly resilient. They survive being dried out in hot and salty coastal wetlands during summer but also frozen in snow-covered creeks in winter. In coastal regions of Australia, eggs of the saltmarsh mosquito (Aedes vigilax), sit perfectly safely on soil. Once the weather warms and tides bring in water to the wetlands, these eggs will be ready to hatch. There is also a special mosquito in Australia known as the “snow melt mosquito” (Aedes nivalis) whose <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1996.tb01371.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eggs survive under snow</a> and hatch once that snow melts and fills ponds, creeks and wetlands throughout alpine regions. Does it matter where mosquitoes go in the winter? It also isn’t just the mosquitoes that survive the cold months. Viruses, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/japanese-encephalitis-virus-can-cause-deadly-brain-swelling-but-in-less-than-1-of-cases-178985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese encephalitis virus</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-ross-river-virus-24630" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ross River virus</a>, can survive from <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2631767/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summer to summer</a> in mosquito eggs, immature stages, or diapausing adults. Knowing the seasonal spread of mosquitoes helps health authorities design surveillance and control programs. It may help understand how <a href="https://entomologytoday.org/2022/05/24/snow-covered-tires-help-invasive-mosquitoes-survive-cold-winters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invasive mosquitoes survive</a> conditions in Australia outside their native ranges by <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0211167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hiding out from the cold</a>, such as in rainwater tanks. Even mosquitoes typically found in tropical locations can even <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.13480" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adapt to cooler climates</a>. This knowledge may even expose the chilly chink in mosquito’s armour that we can use to better control mosquito populations and reduce the risks of disease outbreaks.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/185021/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/where-do-all-the-mosquitoes-go-in-the-winter-185021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

Shark bites are rare. Here are 8 things to avoid to make them even rarer

Shark bite incidents are <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/odds/how-where-when/">rare</a> but traumatic. They’re usually followed by calls for <a href="https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/sharks-a-history-of-fear-in-australia/">mitigation</a> <a href="https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v631/p165-179/">strategies</a>, some of which are dangerous or lethal to sharks – despite the fact most sharks are timid and actively <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266853603_Monitoring_the_effects_of_tourism_on_whale_shark_Rhincodon_typus_behaviour_in_Mozambique">avoid people</a>. The “<a href="https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/sharksmart">SharkSmart</a>” approach, adopted by the Queensland government, aims to educate and urge people to take responsibility for reducing the risk of shark bites by changing their own behaviour. But can humans change? To find out, we teamed up with three companies in the sailing charter industry in the Whitsundays area to better understand how people were using the environment, their knowledge of shark smart behaviours and to see if promoting SharkSmart behaviours led to change. We <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-shark-control-program/resource/27af7dc2-73c5-4752-81c0-d6c8374c92e1">found</a> people can and do change behaviour as a result of education – but for some, unfortunately, a “she’ll be right” attitude still prevails. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381253/original/file-20210129-17-1tc89vl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3159%2C2090&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381253/original/file-20210129-17-1tc89vl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3159%2C2090&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Sharks swim in clear waters." /></a> People must take responsibility for reducing the risk of shark bites by changing their own behaviour. Shutterstock <h2>Doing your part to be SharkSmart</h2> Previous surveys had shown many water-users were already aware of many ways to reduce shark risk but there was <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2018/10/experts-weigh-in-on-the-whitsundays-shark-encounters">room for improvement</a>. Many SharkSmart behaviours are well known, such as not swimming at dusk or dawn when sharks may be more prevalent. But we wanted to find out what else people were doing in the water and see if some key SharkSmart interventions made a difference. The interventions included: <ul> <li>showing people a short <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d17id9NOR6s&feature=youtu.be">video</a> before they went out on the water</li> <li>putting stickers on boats to remind people how to reduce shark risk</li> <li>making SharkSmart brochures available to guests on boats</li> <li>dedicated waste disposal bags were given to two of the charter boat operators, with the third acting as a control group.</li> </ul> <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d17id9NOR6s?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> We did surveys before and after these SharkSmart tools were introduced to see what changed. We particularly wanted to know whether people were less likely to do eight things linked to higher shark risk in the Whitsundays area: 1. splashing in the water 2. swimming alone 3. swimming near fishers 4. swimming at spots where shark bites have occurred in the past (in this case, in <a href="https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/shark-control-program/whitsundays-plan">Cid Harbour</a>) 5. throwing fish scraps in the water 6. throwing burley (a type of bait, sometimes known as chum) in the water 7. fishing near swimmers 8. throwing food in the water. <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-shark-control-program/resource/27af7dc2-73c5-4752-81c0-d6c8374c92e1">Research</a> suggests that by not doing these eight things, we can make shark bites even rarer than they already are. As well as the before-and-after surveys, we captured a sample of rubbish coming back on shore. This was so we could get an idea of whether fish and meat were being stored or thrown overboard. We also wanted to see where and when risk might be higher. For example, snorkelling in a busy anchorage or where people are fishing may increase unnecessary dangers. The warmer months of September to December were mapped as potential higher risk for shark bites. <h2>Our findings</h2> We surveyed 228 tourists (92 pre- and 136 post-intervention) and found: <ul> <li>a 8.9% reduction in splashing or making noise when swimming or snorkelling</li> <li>a 4.1% reduction in throwing fish scraps overboard and</li> <li>a 3.8% reduction in people fishing near people swimming.</li> </ul> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381250/original/file-20210129-23-462790.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381250/original/file-20210129-23-462790.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="A poster shows SharkSmart behaviours." /></a> A poster shows SharkSmart behaviours. Queensland Government, Author provided We found most people were aware of these six behaviours: <ul> <li>following local signage</li> <li>having a buddy when swimming, diving or snorkelling</li> <li>avoiding swimming at dawn or dusk</li> <li>swimming in clear water</li> <li>keeping fish waste and food scraps out of the water where people swim</li> <li>avoiding swimming with schools of bait fish or diving birds.</li> </ul> The lowest awareness was for the last one, but after our intervention we saw a 4.7% increase in knowledge of this behaviour. Although 100% of people were aware of the need to keep fish waste and food scraps out of the water, our pre-surveys between August and October last year found about one-third of tourists still disposed of fish scraps into the water. After the intervention, the share of people doing this dropped to 4-8%. <h2>Shifting the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude</h2> The good news is there is very high awareness of SharkSmart behaviours and most times, people didn’t throw burley in the water, fish near swimmers or swim in Cid Harbour. Unfortunately, some people continued to splash, swim alone and throw fish waste and food scraps in the water. Changing these norms among swimmers and boaties will take time. An attitude of “she’ll be right” still exists among some water users and this group may be the toughest to influence; it’s hard to shift attitudes about dangers among people with such a relaxed attitude to risk. In the Whitsundays and wider Australia, we are lucky to have some of the most incredible beaches, islands and reefs in the world. Most of us are willing to take a small calculated risk to swim in the ocean. Shark bite incidents are <a href="https://taronga.org.au/conservation-and-science/australian-shark-attack-file">extremely rare in Australia</a> but by making small changes, we can drive down the danger even further. Katie Frisch and Gemma Molinaro from Reef Ecologic contributed to this article.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173746/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-smith-515741">Adam Smith</a>, Adjunct Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167">James Cook University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/shark-bites-are-rare-here-are-8-things-to-avoid-to-make-them-even-rarer-173746">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Baldwin film hit by yet another tragedy

Another “devastating event” has occurred on the set of Rust, with a crew member facing the loss of their arm after a spider bite. Jason Miller, a lamp operator and pipe rigger working on the film, was bitten by a brown recluse spider while packing up the set in New Mexico. The brown recluse spider is one of three species in North America that have life-threatening venom. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/1ynDsUP_5p/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/1ynDsUP_5p/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Smithsonian's NMNH (@smithsoniannmnh)</a> </div> </blockquote> According to a Just Giving crowdfunding page, Mr Miller started experiencing severe symptoms, including necrosis of his arm and sepsis, shortly after the bite. “He has been hospitalised and endured multiple surgeries each day as doctors do their best to stop the infection and try to save his arm from amputation,” the page says, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://news.sky.com/story/alec-baldwin-film-shooting-rust-crew-member-in-hospital-for-multiple-surgeries-after-spider-bite-12462638" target="_blank">Sky News</a>. “It will be a very long road to recovery for Jason if the medical team is able to save his arm. “If under worse circumstances he loses the arm, this is a life changing and devastating event for Jason and his family.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845412/baldwin3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e5755507d3b94b36b588115f7fa243c9" /> The set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Image: Getty Images A spokesperson for the film <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/rust-crew-member-may-lose-arm-after-deadly-spider-bite/news-story/519321d002a183f926355d7e5bbb18ef" target="_blank">said</a> they had no comment “on individual members of the cast and crew’s private matters”. The set has been shut down for the last two weeks after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/alec-baldwin-allegedly-shot-and-killed-cinematographer" target="_blank">was killed</a> with a gun accidentally fired by Alec Baldwin. The actor and producer said it’s unlikely that the film will ever be completed following the tragedy, which has sparked <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/change-needs-to-happen-baldwin-tragedy-sparks-reform" target="_blank">growing calls</a> from the industry to ban real guns on sets. Image: news.com.au

News

Can mosquitos spread coronavirus?

The pathogens mosquitos spread by sucking our blood cause over half a million deaths each year and hundreds of millions of cases of severe illness. But there is no scientific evidence to suggest mosquitos are transmitting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. While there are many things we have yet to know about the coronavirus, current research supports that it’s highly unlikely a mosquito will pick up the virus by biting an infected person, let alone be able to pass it on. Mosquitos CAN transmit other viruses Female mosquitos need the nutrition found in blood to help develop their eggs. Viruses take advantage of this requirement as mosquitoes can easily move from host to host to transmit diseases. But for a mosquito to become infected, it first needs to bite an infected animal, such as a bird of kangaroo, or a person. The list of diseases a mosquito can transfer includes dengue, tallow fever, chikungunya, Zika and Ross River virus. They can also spread malaria, which is caused by a parasite. But they cannot transmit other viruses such as HIV and Ebola. Coronavirus is mainly spread through droplets produced when people sneeze or cough, and by touched surfaces that are contaminated. While the virus is found in blood, there’s no evidence that can spread via mosquitos. So if a mosquito does pick up a substantial dose of the virus, the virus won’t be able to infect the mosquito itself. And if the mosquito isn’t infected, it won’t be able to transmit it to the next person.

Body

Can mosquitoes spread coronavirus?

The pathogens mosquitoes spread by sucking our blood cause over <a href="https://www.who.int/malaria/en/">half a million deaths each year</a> and <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue">hundreds of millions of cases of severe illness</a>. But there is no scientific evidence to suggest mosquitoes are transmitting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. There is <a href="https://cmr.asm.org/content/20/4/660">much more to learn about the coronavirus</a> but based on current understandings, it’s highly unlikely a mosquito will pick up the virus by biting an infected person, let alone be able to pass it on. Yes, mosquitoes can transmit other viruses Female mosquitoes need the nutrition contained in blood to help develop their eggs. Viruses take advantage of this biological requirement of mosquitoes to move from host to host. But for a mosquito to become infected, it first needs to bite an infected animal, such as a bird or kangaroo, or a person. Mosquitoes can transmit a number of viruses, including dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika and Ross River virus. They can also transmit malaria, which is caused by a parasite. But they can’t transmit many other viruses, including HIV and Ebola. For <a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/10554479">HIV</a>, mosquitoes themselves don’t become infected. It’s actually unlikely a mosquito will pick up the virus when it bites an infected person due to the low concentrations of the HIV circulating in their blood. For Ebola, <a href="https://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1996.55.89">even when scientists inject the virus into mosquitoes</a>, they don’t become infected. One study collected tens of thousands of insects during an Ebola outbreak but <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/179/Supplement_1/S148/880615">found no virus</a>. No, not coronavirus The new coronavirus is <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations">mostly spread via droplets produced when we sneeze or cough</a>, and by touching <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-know-how-long-coronavirus-survives-on-surfaces-heres-what-it-means-for-handling-money-food-and-more-134671">contaminated surfaces</a>. Although coronavirus has been <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2020.1729071">found in blood samples from infected people</a>, there’s no evidence it can spread via mosquitoes. Even if a mosquito did pick up a high enough dose of the virus in a blood meal, there is no evidence the virus would be able to infect the mosquito itself. And if the mosquito isn’t infected, it won’t be able to transmit it to the next person she bites. Why some viruses and not others? It’s easy to think of mosquitoes as tiny flying dirty syringes transferring droplets of infected blood from person to person. The reality is far more complex. When a mosquito bites and sucks up some blood that contains a virus, the virus quickly ends up in the gut of the insect. From there, the virus needs to infect the cells lining the gut and “escape” to infect the rest of the body of the mosquito, spreading to the legs, wings, and head. The virus then has to infect the salivary glands before being passed on by the mosquito when it next bites. This process can take a few days to over a week. But time isn’t the only barrier. The virus also has to negotiate getting out of the gut, getting through the body, and then into the saliva. Each step in the process can be an impenetrable barrier for the virus. This may be straightforward for viruses that have adapted to this process but for others, the virus will perish in the gut or be excreted. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-mosquitoes-spread-coronavirus-134898">original article</a>.

Body

Why mosquitoes prefer to bite some people over others

It’s always you, isn’t it? The person busy swatting away buzzing backyard mosquitoes or nursing an arm full of itchy red lumps after a weekend camping trip. You’re not imagining it – mosquitoes really are attracted to some people more than others. Why do mosquitoes need blood? Only female mosquitoes bite. They do it for the nutrition contained in blood, which helps develop their eggs. Mosquitoes don’t just get blood from people. They’re actually far more likely to get it from biting animals, <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-australian-wildlife-spread-and-suppress-ross-river-virus-107267">birds</a>, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-18/australian-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-winners/7753248">frogs</a> and reptiles. They even <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0096-5">bite earthworms</a>. But some mosquitoes specifically target people. One of the worst culprits is the Aedes aegypti species, which spreads <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html">dengue</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/">yellow fever</a> viruses. Another that prefers humans are the Anopheles mosquitoes, responsible for spreading the parasites that cause <a href="https://www.who.int/malaria/en/">malaria</a>. How do mosquitoes find us? Most mosquitoes will get their blood from whatever is around and don’t necessarily care if they’re biting one person or another. Although it’s our blood they’re after, there is no strong indicator they prefer a particular blood type over another. Some studies have <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/41/4/796/885285">suggested they prefer people with type O blood</a> but that’s unlikely to be the case for all types of mosquitoes. Whether we’re picked out of a crowd may come down to heavy breathing and skin smell. When they need blood, mosquitoes can pick up on the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-hostfinding-by-mosquitoes-diptera-culicidae-a-review/2506B86EF63852B2D02EC3FCEE1E3B8B">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale. Around the world, carbon dioxide is one of the most common “baits” used to attract and collect mosquitoes. If you’re exhaling greater volumes of carbon dioxide, you’re probably an easier target for mosquitoes. When the mosquito gets closer, she is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214574517300342">responding to a range of stimuli</a>. Perhaps it’s <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471492210002618">body heat and sweat</a>: exercise that increases body temperature and perspiration can attract mosquitoes. Perhaps it’s body size: studies indicate <a href="https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/article/96/2/113/1909983">pregnant women are more likely to be bitten</a> by mosquitoes. How hairy are you? Mosquitoes may have a tough job finding a path through to your skin if there is an abundance of body hair. More than anything else, though, it’s about the smell of your skin. Hundreds of chemicals are sweated out or emitted by our body’s bacteria. The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214574517300536">cocktail of smells they create</a> will either attract or deter mosquitoes. It’s not just who they bite but where Mosquitoes could also have a preference for different parts of the body. One study showed mosquitoes are more attracted to hands and feet <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep27141">than armpits</a>, but that just turned out to be because of deodorant residues. Mosquitoes may also be more attracted to our feet: studies have shown cheese sharing similar bacteria to that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15275226">found between our toes</a> attracts mosquitoes! Who is to blame for this misery? It’s not your diet. There is no evidence that what you eat or drink will prevent mosquito bites. Some food or drink may subtly change how many mosquitoes are likely to bite you but it won’t make that much difference. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/129">Eating bananas</a> or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2832015/">drinking beer</a> has been shown to marginally increase the attraction of mosquitoes but the results aren’t enough to suggest any dietary change will reduce your mosquito bites. That’s why our supermarket shelves aren’t full of “mozzie repellent” pills. Your irresistibility to mosquitoes may not be your fault. Blame your parents. Studies have shown the chemicals responsible for the “<a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/2230769">skin smell</a>” that attracts mosquitoes has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4406498/">a high level of heritability</a> when twins are exposed to biting mosquitoes. What can you do about it? We have to be careful about generalisations. There are thousands of types of mosquitoes around the world and all will have a different preference for what or who to bite. And the attraction of individuals and the scenario that plays out in one part of the world may be much different in another. Remember, it only takes one mosquito bite to transmit a pathogen that could make you sick. So whether you’re a mosquito magnet or feeling a little invisible because you’re not bitten so often, don’t be complacent and <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-best-and-worst-ways-to-beat-mosquito-bites-70274">use insect repellents</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/128788/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/feel-like-youre-a-mozzie-magnet-its-true-mosquitoes-prefer-to-bite-some-people-over-others-128788">original article</a>.

Body

“It hurts”: Roger Federer’s crushing admission after nail-biting Wimbledon finals loss

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were on the verge of causing a worldwide meltdown after an intense Wimbledon final that will forever be remembered. After an epic four-hour-and 57-minute-long match, Djokovic emerged as the victor in the longest men’s final the All England Club has ever witnessed. The final set on its own went for two hours with the champions hoping to one up each other with every move they made. In the end, it was the Serbian who came out on top 7-6 1-6 7-6 4-6 13-12 (7-3) as the world watched the first ever fifth set tiebreak at the iconic major. Devastated, Federer was unable to take advantage of two championship points in the fifth set and was the player who fell short on a day that will be considered iconic for tennis fans. Former British star Tim Henman said on the BBC broadcast, it’s a match “the tennis world will reflect on for a long time to come”. And he wasn’t the only one who held those sentiments, as viewers at home took to Twitter to express their disbelief at the game they just witnessed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Unbelievable scenes. Novak Djokovic saves two match points and breaks. 8-8 in the fifth. Four hours and 13 minutes gone. Utter madness. — George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) <a href="https://twitter.com/BellshawGeorge/status/1150455918984871937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Amazing! Djokovic wins his 5th <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a>. What a final! <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> played an unbelievably good match but somehow <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> wins after saving multiple match points. There is no limit to the amount of pressure this man can handle. Superhuman stuff! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> — Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPatCash/status/1150467312694284288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> I have such huge respect for both <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a>. What a match... wouldn’t have minded to see it go on a little longer 😊 Congrats Novak on another <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wimbledon</a>! — Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) <a href="https://twitter.com/KAndersonATP/status/1150474987687620614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> Despite being crowned the winner, Djokovic was too exhausted to celebrate, but he made sure to pay tribute to his opponent during his on-court interview. “I think this was, if not the most exciting and thrilling final I was ever part of, then definitely top two or three in my career against one of the greatest players of all time in Roger, who I respect a lot,” he said. “Unfortunately, in these kind of matches, one of the players has to lose. “It’s quite unreal to be two match points down and come back … and quite strange to play a tie-break at 12-all too. “I know I’ve said this before but when I was a boy … this always has been the tournament for me. It’s where I wanted to participate and where I wanted to win one day.” Federer cemented his nice guy status. Despite being crushed from his loss, he still found time to praise Djokovic for his performance. “It was a great match. It was long, it had everything,” he said. “I had my chances, so did he, we played some great tennis so in a way I’m happy with my performance as well. “But Novak, congratulations man, that was great. That was crazy. “I hope I give people the chance to believe, at 37, it’s not over yet.” In his post-match conference, Federer was visibly down but still tried to remain optimistic for having the opportunity of making history. “I mean, all of us working in this sport, we know what a great sport it is. I don’t think we need matches, per se. Maybe we need them to sometimes cross over to other sports, maybe get to the fans in the streets and so forth. If that’s the case, that this match did something like this, I think that’s great,” said the Swiss champ. “I think it was a great match with wonderful points played. It had everything. Novak played also amazing today. So I hope it resonates in a big way. “You try to take the good things out of this match. There’s just tons of it. “Like similar to 2008 maybe, I will look back and think, ‘Well, it’s not that bad after all’. For now, it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon. “I think it’s a mindset. I’m very strong at being able to move on because I don’t want to be depressed about actually an amazing tennis match.” His battle against Rafael Nadal in 2008 at the All England Club is widely considered to be one of the greatest games the sport has ever seen, and now, with Sunday's epic final, fans and experts can’t help but draw comparisons. But despite the intensity and power of the two matches, the only thing the 37-year-old can focus on is the end result. “Sure, epic ending, so close, so many moments. Yeah, I mean, sure there’s similarities. But you’ve got to go dig, see what they are,” Federer said. “I’m the loser both times, so that’s the only similarities I see.” And while members of the media snickered after hearing that last line, it’s obvious that behind the smile, Federer is crushed that he couldn’t leave London with the one thing he wanted most.

News

Duchess Meghan fans bite back at mum shamers: “She was doting on him”

The Duchess of Sussex appears to be loving life as a new mum and on Wednesday, the royal <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/archie-s-first-official-outing-the-royal-babies-steal-the-spotlight-from-their-dads" target="_blank">had her first public outing with two-month-old Archie</a> along with his big cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The family watched on as Prince Harry and brother-in-law Prince William went head to head in a charity polo match, and photographs released of the fun day out showed the Duchess doting on her new bundle of joy. “She was doting on him, there’s no doubt about that,” an onlooker told <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-doting-archie-first-outing-polo-match/" target="_blank">PEOPLE</a>. “She was kissing and stroking him and bouncing him up and down.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828528/new-project-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b884ffd34799433082c2ecc88832bd1c" /> Critics, however, took to social media to share their distaste for the way the Duchess was holding her son in a way that made him look like he was about to fall out of her arms. “Meghan looks like she’s about to drop him” one comment read. “She is also not able to hold the baby.” Another cruel comment said: “You can tell she doesn’t even take care of her own kid. What kind of mother holds their baby like that.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828527/new-project-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/efa965cbca524521bd9ddcc4613fc90b" /> However, royal supporters hit back at the cruel criticisms, writing: “She’s still new to it and we’ve all held our babies awkwardly.” Another said: “She’s a brand-new mother. Stop the damn mum-shaming! Jesus!” Maternity nurse and author Lisa Clegg told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabulous Digital</a> she didn’t see any issue with the way the Duchess was holding baby Archie. “To me, her body language looks like she’s holding him in a very protective way, by supporting his bottom and the top of his back, so she’s ready to catch that inevitable head flip they sometimes do, until they learn better head and neck control. “Is it surprising that she’s holding him very close and in such a protective nature, when she has the world looking at her?” Along with baby Archie and the Duchess of Sussex was the Duchess of Cambridge who was also doting on her youngest son, 15-month-old Prince Louis. Wednesday’s royal outing was part of a charity scheme which saw Prince Harry and Prince William battle it out for a charity polo game in honour of Leicester City Football Club owner, who tragically died in a helicopter crash last year.

Caring

Louisiana chicken bites

These delicious chicken bites from Christchurch’s iconic Sun Dog Diner are unforgettable. Serves: 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on</li> <li>Olive oil</li> <li>salt and pepper</li> <li>1 cup buttermilk</li> <li>2 cups self raising flour</li> <li>1 tablespoon onion powder</li> <li>1 tablespoon garlic powder</li> <li>1 tablespoon salt</li> <li>1 tablespoon smoked paprika</li> <li>1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper</li> </ul> For the blue cheese dip <ul> <li>1 cup sour cream</li> <li>½ cup aioli or mayonnaise</li> <li>50g blue cheese, crumbled</li> <li>pinch of salt</li> </ul> Method: 1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Drizzle olive oil over chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. 2. Place in small roasting dish so breasts are close together but not overlapping. Roast for 20 minutes in the oven or until fully cooked. Allow to cool in the roasting juices. 3. When cool, remove the skins and cut the breasts into bite size pieces. Place the chicken in a bowl and cover with the buttermilk. Allow to sit for at least an hour in the fridge, but the longer it sits the better (even overnight). 4. Heat a small deep fryer to 170 degrees Celsius. Combine dry ingredients in a shallow container. In small amounts, transfer the buttermilk coated chicken into the flour mixture and coat well. Allow to rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes after all pieces are coated. Fry in batches until the crust is golden brown. For the dipping sauce stir together the aioli, sour cream and crumbled cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the cooked chicken bits in hot sauce while still hot. Serve with julienned carrots, celery sticks and the dipping sauce. * Sun Dog Diner, 2 Papanui Rd, Christchurch, New Zealand. Open Tuesday to Thursday 8am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 8am to late and Sunday 8am to 5pm. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a>

Food & Wine

What to eat to stop mozzies from biting you

Cameron Webb, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist at the University of Sydney, tells us what to eat to stop the mozzies from biting. The warm weather is beckoning us into the backyard but pesky bloodsuckers are waiting. Insect repellents are <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-best-and-worst-ways-to-beat-mosquito-bites-70274" target="_blank">safe and effective</a> but many people are reluctant to rub what they perceive to be smelly or sticky on their skin. Wouldn’t it be great if there was something you could eat or drink to protect yourself from mosquito bites? There are plenty of “mozzie busting” gadgets and gimmicks marketed as alternatives to topical formulations. From <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-do-wrist-bands-work-to-repel-mozzies-50186" target="_blank">wrist bands to smartphone apps</a>, the range of products reflects the demand among the public for these products. Unfortunately, <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/article/2996380/Efficacy" target="_blank">few of these provide effective protection</a>. We know <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-why-mosquitoes-seem-to-bite-some-people-more-36425" target="_blank">some people are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes than others</a>, with the <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0028991" target="_blank">bacteria on our skin</a> playing a crucial role in our attractiveness to mosquitoes. Studies indicate <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122716" target="_blank">our parents are mostly to blame</a>, not our diets. Many myths surround the food and drink that may keep mosquitoes at bay but, when it comes to the science behind these theories, it all becomes a bit too hard to swallow. Cheers to mosquito-borne disease Love a <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/foreigners/2013/08/gin_and_tonic_kept_the_british_empire_healthy_the_drink_s_quinine_powder.html" target="_blank">gin and tonic</a>? There was once a time you could sip your way out of a malaria-induced fever. It was more about the tonic than the gin. A key ingredient in tonic water is quinine. Derived from the bark of a cinchona tree, quinine had been identified as a <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0141076816681421" target="_blank">treatment for malaria</a> in the 1960s and although it’s currently not recommended as a first-line treatment, historically it was critically important in battling the parasites that cause malaria. It’s important to note that while it’s thought to be toxic to the parasites, there was no evidence it actually stopped mosquito bites. Also, modern tonic water <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water" target="_blank">hardly contains any quinine</a>. Booze and mosquito bites may actually make a good match. Studies in Africa have demonstrated <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0009546" target="_blank">drinking beer can make you more attractive to mosquitoes</a>. After downing a few glasses of beer, volunteers were found to attract more mosquitoes than those drinking just water. Why? It didn’t seem to be due to body temperature or the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled. Perhaps mosquitoes are evolving to bite drunk people less able to swat the bloodsuckers away? Snacking your way to a bite-free summer? One of the most commonly suggested foods to eat to avoid mosquito bites is the humble banana. Problem is, it seems as many people think eating bananas will make you more attractive to mosquitoes than not! There <a href="http://www.mosquitoreviews.com/bananas.html" target="_blank">isn’t the science to support either claim,</a> but it’s unlikely eating bananas would substantially change the way mosquitoes pick you out from a crowd. If garlic can keep mythic blood suckers away, what about those buzzing about in real life? Nope. Our breath may smell a bit after a garlic-rich meal but a <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0269-283X.2005.00544.x/full" target="_blank">study has shown it does nothing</a> to lessen our attractiveness to mosquitoes. It may actually make us <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7825135" target="_blank">more attractive to vampires, according to science</a>! Beating bloodsuckers with vitamin B? Perhaps one of the most pervasive home remedies perceived to prevent mosquito bites is taking vitamin B. Anecdotal reports, and many personal testimonies, of the effectiveness of this approach abound, but there a few scientific investigations testing the claim. Studies dating back to the 1940s <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/100/2590/147.1" target="_blank">failed to provide proof</a> of protection from mosquito bites after taking vitamin B. More recently, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16033124" target="_blank">a 2005 study</a> showed there was no evidence it influenced the attraction of mosquitoes to human skin-derived chemicals from volunteers taking vitamin B supplements. There is simply no evidence taking vitamin B will offer any significant protection from mosquito bites. In reality, if there was even moderate scientific evidence that taking a vitamin supplement could prevent mosquito bites, our supermarket shelves would be full of “mosquito repellent pills”. It would be wonderful to be able to pop a pill a day to stop mosquito bites but we’re unlikely to have that luxury any time soon. In fact, products marketed as oral insect repellents are not recognised by <a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=310.529" target="_blank">some government agencies</a> given the lack of any compelling evidence to support the claims. Don’t use mosquito bite prevention as an excuse to boost your intake of vegemite either. It may be a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/06/08/vegemite-what-it-is-ways-to-eat-it-and-why-its-so-good_a_21392025/" target="_blank">staple in most Australian households</a>, but it won’t make our summer backyard activities any less bite-prone, no matter how much vitamin B it contains (or how much you spread on your toast). The reality is, if there was great science supporting any of these mosquito bite-blocking claims associated with food and drink, countless companies would be cashing in on selling “mosquito repellent vitamins” and I have little doubt topical insect repellents would disappear from our supermarket shelves. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Do you think you’ll take these tips? Written by Cameron Webb. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.<img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87178/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/>

Domestic Travel

7 tips to stop biting your nails (from people who beat the habit)

Biting your nails one of the most common bad habits around, and if you’ve ever tried to quit, you’ll know just how difficult it can be. However, the old saying really is true in this case – where there’s a will, there’s a way. So, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/ailbhemalone/useful-tips-that-will-help-you-stop-biting-your-nails?utm_term=.isLbYeE1mX#.nq6rX0z8Nd" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a> asked its readers to share the one tip that helped them break the habit, and we’ve rounded up some of our favourites here. Feel free to add yours in the comments! 1. Nail polish and acrylics Whether you’re getting acrylic nails professionally done at a salon, simply painting them at home or experimenting with nail art, many former biters discovered that taking pride in their nails was the solution to their problem. By making them look good, many found they couldn’t bear to ruin their manicure. 2. Glue-on nails Sometimes all you need is a barrier between you and the thing you’re trying to avoid – and press-on nails do just that. They’re cheap, will help your nails heal, and if you use good quality glue, can stay on for about a week. Simply keep replacing them until you’ve kicked the habit. 3. Anti-biting treatments They don’t work for everyone, but these treatments are cheap, easy to find and very effective for some. How do they work? A bit of negative reinforcement – they make your nails taste so disgusting, you’ll never want to bite them again. 4. Switch up the impulse The next time you get that powerful urge to nibble, do something proactive instead. Some biters have found that using the impulse as a chance to do something good to their nails (like applying a healthy oil or cream) helped ease them out of the habit. 5. Reward yourself If you need more incentive than just healthy nails (although that’s a pretty damn good reason, if you ask us!) set up a rewards system for yourself. Each hour, day or week (or whatever other interval you want to set for yourself) that you don’t bite, treat yourself to something nice. Whether it’s small, like a bar of your favourite chocolate, or a bit more indulgent like a facial or massage. 6. Keep your hands or mouth occupied Fidget spinners aren’t just for kids! The next time you get the urge to bite, keep your hands occupied with a fidget toy – there are tons out there, and they’re all super affordable. As for your mouth, chew some gum or suck on a long-lasting lolly. It’ll distract you from going straight for the nails. 7. Get your hands dirty Spend a few hours gardening, browse a magazine at your GP, clean the house – with all this dirt, germs and chemicals lurking under your nails, you definitely won’t want to get them anywhere near your mouth.

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Easy cheesy garlic bites

These delicious, explosive garlic bites are so full of cheesy goodness, we bet they’ll be the first thing to go at your next party. Ingredients: <ul> <li>Frozen scones/or dough</li> <li>3 Mozzarella cheese sticks.</li> <li>4 tablespoons of butter</li> <li>1 teaspoon of garlic powder</li> <li>1 tablespoon of parmesan</li> <li>1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning</li> <li>Sesame seeds</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 200°C.</li> <li>Cut cheese sticks into four pieces each.</li> <li>Separate your scones and place a piece of cheese inside each one.</li> <li>Pinch the scone around the cheese to completely cover it.</li> <li>Place pinched side down on a baking sheet and sprinkle on sesame seeds. Bake until golden for about ten minutes.</li> <li>Melt butter and mix with garlic powder, parmesan and seasoning. Brush over scones.</li> <li>Serve immediately with marinara sauce.</li> </ol> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/cheddar-and-bacon-pies/">Mini cheddar cheese and bacon pies</a> <a href="/lifestyle/outdoors/2015/07/spicy-chicken-wings/">Spicy chicken wings</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/08/french-onion-soup/">French onion soup</a>

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