Since this year, people in many places across the country have reported that mosquitoes appear earlier, in greater numbers, and bite more violently.Experts said that due to the combined influence of the triple factors of warm winter, El Niño phenomenon and increased insecticide resistance of mosquitoes, mosquitoes have experienced an epic increase this year, and the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission has also increased simultaneously, requiring vigilance in prevention and control.
According to monitoring data from the meteorological and disease control departments, warm winter weather will occur across the country from 2025 to 2026. Active mosquitoes have been found in Beijing, Shandong and other places in the north in March, 1 to 2 months earlier than in previous years.
The warm winter environment has greatly improved the survival rate of overwintering female mosquitoes, soaring by 35% compared with previous years. The number of first-generation mosquitoes after the beginning of spring doubled compared with previous years, laying the foundation for a surge in mosquito density throughout the year.
The continued impact of El Niño further intensifies mosquito breeding.
Since the beginning of this year, the temperature in many places across the country has stabilized at 22-30°C. This temperature range is just suitable for the breeding needs of mosquitoes.This shortens the mosquito egg hatching cycle by 40%, taking only 7 to 10 days from egg to adult.
At the same time, extreme rainstorms occur frequently, and a large amount of natural water accumulates in areas such as flower pots and pallets, discarded tires, sewers, and construction site potholes, which have become "breeding rooms" for mosquitoes. Among them, Aedes albopictus (flower mosquito) eggs hatch when exposed to water, and the density increases significantly.
In addition, rising temperatures have also caused the distribution of Aedes mosquitoes to move northward, and the density of flower mosquitoes in northern areas has increased significantly.
In addition to environmental factors, the increasing resistance of mosquitoes to antibiotics also makes prevention and control more difficult.
For a long time, the abuse of pyrethroid mosquito coils and insecticides has made mosquitoes generally resistant to drug resistance. Especially Aedes albopictus, which is not only active during the day, flies quickly, and is highly alert, but also causes more obvious redness and swelling of the skin and more severe itching after being bitten, and it takes more than half a month to subside. The effectiveness of conventional mosquito repellent and mosquito control methods has been significantly reduced.
In response to this mosquito prevention and control, disease control departments and experts have given clear suggestions:
The core is to clean up all kinds of stagnant water, and check and clean areas prone to stagnant water such as flowerpots, trays, bottles, and floor drains at least once a week to curb mosquito breeding from the source;
Wear light-colored long-sleeved pants when going out, and apply mosquito repellent containing DEET or picaridin to exposed areas;
Install good screens at home, and use physical methods such as electric mosquito swatters and mosquito killer lamps to kill mosquitoes. In areas with severe drug resistance, regular insecticide aerosols can be used;
If you develop high fever, severe headache, joint pain and other symptoms after being bitten, you need to seek medical attention immediately to check for mosquito-borne diseases.