Climate Change Attracts More Mosquitoes

Climate change may be bringing inviting to the survival of more mosquitoes, as well as more mosquitoes carrying various diseases. The long dry spells, which are brought on by higher temperatures are the perfect environment. This environment with higher temperatures is good for mosquitoes, as they also reduce the populations of dragonflies, lacewings, and frogs that eat the mosquitoes. With a great environment for mosquitoes, more can survive and can more likely carry the West Nile virus, the dengue fever, and many more diseases. Global warming, with an accompanying rise in floods and droughts, is fueling the spread of epidemics around the world. Mosquitoes are surviving warmer winters and expanding their range, also bringing health threats with them. The Asian tiger mosquitoes are just one example of specie of mosquitoes that is thriving in a warmer climate world. The Asian tiger mosquitoes carry dengue fever, and have been reported recently as far north as the Netherlands. The higher elevations of Africa, the Alps in Europe, and the Andes in South America are warming at a faster pace than the lowlands. As ice caps and glaciers melt, forests move higher on the mountains. Therefore, insects carry diseases from warmer lowlands farther up the slopes. The warming climate has now brought the West Nile virus to North America. "One of the problems we have in North America is coming to grips with the fact that epidemics are still a problem," said Elliott, the lawyer. "Canadians, prior to West Nile virus, just considered mosquitoes to be annoying. We had never thought of mosquitoes as being disease carriers,” said Toronto lawyer Douglas Elliot. Elliot brought a suit against the Ontario government on behalf of about 40 victims of the West Nile virus. Scientists have warned us that diseases would come along with climate change, but no one expected it at this extreme of a level. For example, in just a couple of years the West Nile virus has infected more than 21,000 people in the United States. "Things we projected to occur in 2080 are happening in 2006. What we didn't get is how fast and how big it is, and the degree to which the biological systems would respond," said Paul Epstein of Harvard Medical School. "Our mistake was in underestimation." The change in climate is attracting more mosquitoes, as it is more suitable for them to live. Unfortunately, it seems that more mosquitoes means more diseases. Not only is this a danger hazard, but also this could have a detrimental impact on certain recreational/outdoor industries.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050401931.html