Our Dutch house mosquito seems to survive well in salt water. In the salinizing Netherlands, this will make it easier for large mosquito pests in the future, says biologist Maarten Schrama in the science program NTR Focus. These pests become dangerous if they can also transmit viruses; then a big revolution could happen. West Nile virus, which is already dormant in the Netherlands, has claimed 88 lives in Europe this year. Epidemiologist Marion Koopmans says in Focus that a larger outbreak of West Nile virus in the Netherlands is only a matter of time. Focus, Thursday, 8:55 pm at NTR on NPO 2.
The Netherlands is getting salty at a fast pace. As a result of rising sea levels, our ditches are also becoming saltier. Until now, it was thought that our household mosquitoes cannot tolerate salt water, but recent experiments by biologists Maarten Schrama and Jordy van der Beek from Leiden University showed that they can reproduce well in salt water . The salt has a great advantage even for the mosquitoes: their natural enemies are not against salt and that is the best recipe for a major mosquito infestation. Maarten Schrama: “We have about 300,000 kilometers of ditches in the Netherlands. If all those ditches in Holland become completely full of mosquitoes, it might be a country where you can live, but ‘yes’ question is whether you still want to live there.’
At Wageningen University, scientists Charlotte Linthout and Sander Koenraadt are investigating the following problem. Are mosquitoes raised in salt water more susceptible to viruses? In a special biosafety laboratory, mosquitoes are offered chicken blood that is contaminated with various viruses. In this way, all possible doomsday scenarios are explored.
Salt water has also caused health problems in the past. When there were still many saltwater marshes in the Netherlands, malaria occurred here. Osteoarchaeologist Rachel Schats (Leiden University) examines skeletons for signs of this mosquito-borne disease. It wasn’t until 1970 that the WHO officially declared our country malaria-free.
Broadcast: Focus: The Netherlands, mosquito paradise can be seen on Thursday, October 31 at 8:55 pm on NTR on NPO 2.
2024-10-30 18:48:00
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