Mosquito numbers double in just a week as scorching summer heat eases
Mosquitoes are out in force this fall as the summer heat eases and the weather turns cooler, with the latest mosquito index nearly doubling in just one week. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s real-time mosquito surveillance data released Sunday, the mosquito index reached 100.9 in week 35 of this year, covering Aug. 24 to 29. The figure, based on catches from daily…
Mosquito populations have surged dramatically within a week's time as the scorching summer heat gives way to cooler autumn weather, according to recent data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The mosquito index, which measures mosquito activity, nearly doubled from 53 to 100.9 between weeks 34 and 35 of the year, covering August 24 to 29.
This significant increase, a rise of 47.9, marks the first instance in which the index surpassed 100 since the agency began monitoring using automated systems this year.
The index had remained relatively stable between 40 and 50 from weeks 28 through 32 prior to this sudden jump. It had peaked at 99.5 in week 33 before dropping to 53 in week 34, before experiencing another sharp rise in week 35. Culex tritaeniorhynchus, a mosquito species known to transmit Japanese encephalitis, a rare but severe viral infection, also saw its index increase by 34 points, averaging an uptick in transmission potential.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
