Maria Elena De Obaldia: Why mosquitoes bite some people more than others

Why mosquitoes bite some people more than others

Some swear they're cursed to be hunted by mosquitos while their close-by companions are regularly left unscathed. Are mosquitos really attracted to some people more than others? And if so, is there anything we can do about it? Maria Elena De Obaldia digs into what factors make people tasty targets for these pesky insects. [Directed by Anton Bogaty, narrated by Pen-Pen Chen, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].

Mosquitoes hunt humans by tracking carbon dioxide, body heat, and especially unique skin odors created by our microbial communities. About 20% of people are naturally much more attractive to mosquitoes, often due to higher levels of skin acids shaped by both genes and microbes. Temporary factors, like sweating or pregnancy, can boost appeal even more. Understanding these patterns is critical, since mosquito-borne diseases kill hundreds of thousands every year.