Nasty stings: 2024 is going to be a big year for mosquitoes

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It will soon be that time of year again, and the menacing, annoying buzzing in the bedroom will be back as soon as you turn off the light. But mosquitoes are not only extremely annoying. They are also dangerous. As soon as the bloodsucker has bitten, an itchy wheal forms on the skin.

2024 is going to be a big year for mosquitoes
This year could be a particularly intense mosquito year. The heavy rainfall in recent weeks has created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, which means that the mosquito season starts three to four weeks earlier than usual. House, forest, and meadow mosquitoes are already hatching. The warm and humid weather means mosquitoes are biting particularly often and severely this year.

There could also be an increased incidence of wasps this year. The queens built their first combs in April, and the first workers hatched in May. The population is proliferating; by August, one nest will already be home to up to 12,000 animals.
Tiger mosquito spreads
The dangerous tiger mosquito is also spreading rapidly. It can transmit pathogens such as dengue or Zika viruses. In recent years, it has been increasingly introduced from abroad. If the summer gets hot again, this trend will continue in 2024.

A weak immune system increases itching
People who have rarely been stung suffer, particularly this summer. People with a weak immune system are also more affected. A weak immune system cannot fight off stings, which increase itching—this also applies to allergies and skin conditions such as neurodermatitis.

What helps against itching?
The best remedy against bites is prevention: mosquito repellent or long clothing helps. If you have been bitten anyway, quick heat, for example, with an electric bite healer, helps against the venom. In the case of particularly severe reactions, it is advisable to use cooling gels with cortisone and decongestants, which work even faster.