Speed Reading — Mosquito Bites - Level 3 — 200 wpm

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Why are some people bitten by mosquitoes more than other people? A website has discovered some answers to this question. Researchers from the site Medical News Today (MNT) looked into what parts of us mosquitoes like. They found out some interesting things. A professor of public health, Dr Jagdish Khubchandani, told MNT what he thought mosquitoes liked. He said: "Studies suggest that pregnant women, people with high body temperature and sweat…and those with darker skin could be [bigger targets]." Blood type could be another factor. Studies found that mosquitoes are not so attracted to people with blood group A. However, they find people with blood group O a little tastier.

Medical News Today reported that there are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide. Only a fraction of these bite people. Only the females of the species bite. They need blood to provide protein for their eggs. Mosquito bites are an annoyance for most people. The bite becomes itchy and can swell. However, millions of people have died from the diseases mosquitoes spread. These include malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, yellow fever and Zika, among others. To avoid getting bitten, it is best to cover your skin with clothing. It is also a good idea to use insect repellent (day and night, indoors and outdoors) on any exposed skin. Sleeping under a mosquito net can also reduce the chances of being bitten.

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