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23 May 2013 09:26
Infected mosquitoes are more attracted to human smells than uninfected ones
Mosquitoes infected with malaria are more attracted to human odours than uninfected ones, according to a study. Scientists claim the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, alters the host mosquito's olfactory system, leading to a heightened attraction to human odours.
This heightened attraction causes mosquitoes to fly more frequently to humans to feed on their blood, thereby increasing transmission of the pathogen responsible for the tropical disease.
Only females of the genus Anopheles transmit human malaria, as they suck blood to nurture their eggs. The team of researchers, led by Renate C Smallegange, an entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, are the first to demonstrate the malaria parasite has power over mosquito behaviour.
Around 3.3 billion people around the world live in high-risk malaria areas, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. Travellers to such regions should make sure they receive the necessary jabs before jetting off, while purchasing medical travel insurance is also advised for added peace of mind.
The finding were published in the journal PLOS ONE.
17 August 2018
People living with HIV could be offered a long-lasting injection that controls the virus and protects patients from developing AIDS.
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16 August 2018
Holidaymakers in the UK will be hit by more train price hikes from next year, after the Government announced ticket prices will increase by 3.2% in January.
15 August 2018
A simple blood test could help GPs detect a rare form of bone marrow cancer much earlier, a new study suggests.
14 August 2018
Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month faced queues of over two and a half hours at passport control, new figures have revealed.
11 August 2018
Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned on Friday due to pilot strikes in five countries.
10 August 2018
Fad diets that cut out carbs while increasing fat consumption could lead to an increased risk of diabetes, according to new research.
09 August 2018
HIV testing has become even more accessible after a self-testing kit was made available from a High Street retailer.
08 August 2018
Women patients are more likely to survive a heart attack if they are treated by a female doctor, a new US study has revealed.
07 August 2018
The head of British Airways has branded two-hour queues facing travellers at Heathrow's passport control as a "border farce."
04 August 2018
Simple factors such as gender and body mass can help doctors to personalise care for patients with type 2 diabetes and avoid harmful side effects, according to a study.
03 August 2018
Gatwick Express must no longer claim it runs "non-stop to Victoria station in half an hour" and "in just 30 minutes" unless it can achieve the time in most cases, a watchdog has ruled.
02 August 2018
A charity is calling for greater access to respite support after it emerged that 72% of Britain's 700,000 young carers feel lonely and isolated during the summer holidays.