Why some people are prone to mosquito bites

Specific cells in one of the three organs that make up the mosquito’s nose are tuned to identify the different chemicals that make up human body odour.

Células especializadas en los tres órganos olfatorios del mosquito pueden identificar diferentes sustancias químicas que constituye el olor humano.

To the mosquito some people’s sweat simply smells better than others because of the proportions of the carbon dioxide, octenol and other compounds that make up body odour.
It is those people who are most likely to be bitten.

The researchers believe the discovery of the way the mosquito smells will lead to the development of a new generation of repellents that would block mosquitoes’ nose - preventing them finding humans prey - within five to 10 years.

Estos descubrimientos permitirán desarrollar nuevos repelentes

Most of the reason for people believing they are targeted more frequently by mosquitoes is in reality down to their suffering more serious swellings and allergic reactions.
However it has been shown that some people are bitten more often because of differences in their body odour.

La razón más importante para que la gente piense que es más susceptible a ser picada, es porque son más alérgicas a las picadas. Sin embargo, como ya hemos visto, también depende del olor corporal.

Malaria infects some 650 million people per year worldwide and kills between one and three million, mostly young children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

650 millones de personas son infectadas cada año de malaria o paludismo en el mundo, de los cuales mueren entre uno y tres millones, principalmente niños en el África.