Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus thriving in heat, becoming resistant to repellent

According to a chief specialist with the CDC

**mosquitoes are the agency’s “primary concern in the u.s. right now.”

there are a few reasons why.

the population of mosquitoes is on the rise given the unprecedented heat wave **and rainfall – 

and mosquitoes are apparently becoming **resistant to some bug repellents 

a cdc lab that studies the pesky insect has found through testing that mosquitoes are actually ***living **longer after being exposed to chemicals meant to repel them.

a welcoming environment – and weakened defense against them –

is worrying federal health officials that malaria and west nile virus – two serious diseases transferred by a single mosquito bite – could become a more common threat to the public –

as it was decades ago.

for the first time in 20 years – people in texas and florida are contracting **locally acquired** malaria.

in 2003 – there were nearly 10 thousand cases of west nile virus.

as of right now – there’s been fewer than 100 this year –

but cases typically peak in august and september.

and the cdc says there are more mosquitoes today than there were 20 years ago – 

and in certain places with heavy rainfall this past year – like fort collins colorado – there are as many as five times the number of mosquitoes compared to last year.

an example of mosquito borne diseases quickly on the rise –

in maricopa county, arizona where record-breaking high temps are making for homey conditions for the mosquito –

149 traps tested positive for west nile.

compare that to only 8 total last year.

although a tiny insect often seen as a humming nuisance –

that bite comes with quite the punch.

the mosquito is the deadliest animal in the world.

scientists have their global population at more than 100 trillion –

responsible for up to a million deaths per year.