Himalayas Witness Mosquito Surge as Global Warming Takes Its Toll

The extension of ‘mosquito transmission season’ is a global phenomenon
In the Himalayan region, mosquitoes breed prolifically

Despite the onset of winter, many people suffer from mosquito-related issues, according to a report by JoongAng Ilbo on December 6th.

The Washington Post recently reported that the “mosquito season extension” is a global phenomenon. The mosquito activity period is increasing, their habitat is expanding, and their population is also growing.

 

According to various media outlets, experts attribute the mosquito outbreak to climate change. Indeed, as global warming progresses, mosquitoes are increasing even in the Himalayas, often referred to as the ‘roof of the world.’

According to Foreign Policy, mosquitoes have been found even in remote high-altitude areas of the Himalayas, famous for their high peaks, lakes, and trekking, ranging from 492 to 24,606 feet in altitude.

A resident of Dunai, a high-altitude village at about 6,561 feet, told The Washington Post, “It’s surprising. There were no mosquitoes here before.”

 

Nepal’s health authorities have reported an increase in mosquito-borne disease patients, including three dengue fever infections in Mustang, a high-altitude area, last September. The Himalayas are considered one of the areas most vulnerable to global warming. According to the International Integrated Mountain Development Centre, the average annual temperature in the Himalayas is rising by 0.32 degrees Celsius every decade.

The common belief that ‘mosquitoes find it hard to survive at high altitudes’ has also been debunked in Africa. According to a research team from Georgetown University in the U.S., the habitat range of mosquitoes in Africa is expanding by an average of about 21 feet per year, or about 200 feet every decade, into high-altitude areas. The research team explained this is due to “rising temperatures caused by global warming and the El Niño phenomenon, where the surface water temperature in the tropical Pacific is higher than average.”

Experts report that the already hot earth this year is causing mosquitoes to thrive. This year has been so hot that there are predictions the average global temperature will hit a record high.

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this past September was the hottest September, with an average global temperature of 16.44 degrees Celsius (61.59 degrees Fahrenheit).

A hotter earth is a paradise for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes, being ectothermic animals, are greatly affected by temperature. They need at least 9 degrees Celsius (48.2 degrees Fahrenheit) to fly and 13 degrees Celsius (55.4 degrees Fahrenheit) to feed on blood. In an environment of 25-27 degrees Celsius (77-80.6 degrees Fahrenheit), it takes only 12 days for an egg to become an adult.

Last month in Korea, there was a strange phenomenon where the mosquito population increased due to the warm weather compared to the previous month. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, about 933 mosquitoes were collected in the second week of October through 50 digital mosquito measuring devices throughout the city. This is about 1.5 times more than the last week of September (607 mosquitoes).

The number of malaria patients has also increased in Korea. As of mid-last month, the number of malaria patients recorded this year was 719, surpassing 700 for the first time in 12 years since 2011.

Lee Dong-kyu, a professor at Kosin University’s Department of Health and Environment, known as an authority in the field of mosquitoes in Korea, told the media, “The activity period of Anopheles sinensis, the mosquito that transmits malaria, has increased due to climate change. Also, these mosquitoes are coming from North Korea searching for a warmer environment, which has influenced the increase in patients.”

Some argue that mosquitoes should be improved using genetic modification or completely eradicated. However, experts say that while many creatures could replace mosquitoes if they disappear, considering the mosquito’s tremendous reproductive capacity, eradication seems practically tricky.