07/01/2025
Summer 2025: Mosquito Science with Ask The Doctor
Mosquitoes are selective insects, meaning some people are more likely to get bites than others. That’s right... there’s actual science behind why some people are more attractive to the insects than others!
Our own HCA Healthcare Mountain Division Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Filip Roos, joined Kelly Chapman & Dan Evans on Good Day Utah to talk about it. If you're wondering whether you're a target, consider the answers to these questions:
1️⃣ What's your blood type? Do you have Type O?
2️⃣ How much carbon dioxide does your body give off? (The more you give off, the more attractive you are to the bugs)
3️⃣ Do you run warm? People whose body heat runs a little higher are more likely to get the bite.
In one controlled study by the Journal of Medical Entomology, the bugs landed on people with blood Type O nearly twice as frequently as those with Type A. Lifestyle or other health factors may also play a role. If you're drinking alcohol or exercising, bites are more likely. If you're overweight or pregnant, you're also more likely to get bitten!
Stay safe out there and do your best to prevent bites altogether!
Thanks for having us, FOX 13 News!