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What causes the itch in mozzie bites? And why do some people get such a bad reaction?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Are you one of these people who loathes spending time outdoors at dusk as the weather warms and mosquitoes start biting? Female mosquitoes <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-ento-120811-153618">need blood</a> to develop their eggs. Even though they take a tiny amount of our blood, they can leave us with itchy red lumps that can last days. And sometimes something worse. So why does our body react and itch after being bitten by a mosquito? And why are some people more affected than others? <h2>What happens when a mosquito bites?</h2> Mosquitoes are attracted to warm blooded animals, including us. They’re attracted to the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/abs/role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-hostfinding-by-mosquitoes-diptera-culicidae-a-review/2506B86EF63852B2D02EC3FCEE1E3B8B">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale, our body temperatures and, most importantly, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-08/mosquitoes-climate-change-skin/104548122">the smell of our skin</a>. The <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/parasitology/abstract/S1471-4922(21)00237-3">chemical cocktail</a> of odours from bacteria and sweat on our skin <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00532-8">sends out a signal</a> to hungry mosquitoes. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000522">Some people’s</a> skin smells more appealing to mosquitoes, and they’re more likely to be bitten than others. Once the mosquito has made its way to your skin, things get a little gross. The mosquito pierces your skin with their “proboscis”, their feeding mouth part. But the proboscis isn’t a single, straight, needle-like tube. There are multiple tubes, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/07/480653821/watch-mosquitoes-use-6-needles-to-suck-your-blood">some designed</a> for sucking and some for spitting. Once their mouth parts have been inserted into your skin, the mosquito will inject some saliva. This contains a mix of chemicals that gets the blood flowing better. There has even been a suggestion that future medicines could be inspired by the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2018/03/29/mosquito-saliva-vital-to-the-discovery-of-future-drugs.html">anti-blood clotting properties</a> of mosquito saliva. It’s not the stabbing of our skin by the mosquito’s mouth parts that hurts, it’s the mozzie spit our bodies don’t like. <h2>Are some people allergic to mosquito spit?</h2> Once a mosquito has injected their saliva into our skin, a variety of reactions can follow. For the lucky few, nothing much happens at all. For most people, and irrespective of the type of mosquito biting, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1024559/full">there is some kind of reaction</a>. Typically there is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161589023002304?via%3Dihub">redness and swelling of the skin</a> that appears within a few hours, but often more quickly, after just a few minutes. Occasionally, the reaction can cause pain or discomfort. Then comes the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2023-01-20/mosquito-bites-itchy-calamine-heat-ice-antihistamine-toothpaste/101652608">itchiness</a>. Some people do suffer severe reactions to mosquito bites. It’s a condition often referred to as “<a href="https://www.webmd.com/allergies/what-is-skeeter-syndrome">skeeter syndrome</a>” and is an allergic reaction caused by the protein in the mosquito’s saliva. This can cause large areas of swelling, blistering and fever. The chemistry of mosquito spit hasn’t really been well studied. But it has been shown that, for those who do suffer allergic reactions to their bites, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674904022183">reactions may differ</a> depending on the type of mosquito biting. We all probably get more tolerant of mosquito bites as we get older. Young children are certainly more likely to suffer more following mosquito bites. But as we get older, the reactions are less severe and may pass quickly without too much notice. <h2>How best to treat the bites?</h2> Research into treating bites <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0161589023002304">has yet to provide</a> a single easy solution. There are many <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/outdoor-health/home-remedies-for-mosquito-bites">myths and home remedies</a> about what works. But there is little scientific evidence supporting their use. The best way to treat mosquito bites is by applying a cold pack to reduce swelling and to keep the skin clean to avoid any secondary infections. Antiseptic creams and lotions may also help. There is some evidence that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10309056/">heat may alleviate</a> some of the discomfort. It’s particularly tough to keep young children from scratching at the bite and breaking the skin. This can form a nasty scab that may end up being worse than the bite itself. Applying an anti-itch cream may help. If the reactions are severe, <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/insect-bites-and-stings">antihistamine medications</a> may be required. <h2>To save the scratching, stop the bites</h2> Of course, it’s better not to be bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Topical <a href="https://theconversation.com/insect-repellents-work-but-there-are-other-ways-to-beat-mosquitoes-without-getting-sticky-171805">insect repellents</a> are a safe, effective and affordable way to reduce mosquito bites. Covering up with loose fitted long sleeved shirts, long pants and covered shoes also provides a physical barrier. <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-mosquito-coils-good-or-bad-for-our-health-88548">Mosquito coils and other devices</a> can also assist, but should not be entirely relied on to stop bites. There’s another important reason to avoid mosquito bites: millions of people around the world suffer from mosquito-borne diseases. More than <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria">half a million people die</a> from malaria each year. In Australia, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005070">Ross River virus</a> infects more than 5,000 people every year. And in recent years, there have been cases of serious illnesses caused by <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/how-rains-pigs-and-waterbirds-fueled-shocking-disease-outbreak-australia">Japanese encephalitis</a> and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1256149/full">Murray Valley encephalitis</a> viruses. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-causes-the-itch-in-mozzie-bites-and-why-do-some-people-get-such-a-bad-reaction-243044">original article</a>. </div>

Body

The Block winners revealed after nail-biting auction

The winners of the 2024 season of The Block have been crowned, after the nail-biting auction came to a dramatic end on Sunday night. In a break from tradition, it was the last house sold that made the most money, with sisters Maddy and Charlotte making a huge $1,550,00 profit from their house, as well as the $100,000 prize money. The sisters, aged just 25 and 22, were in disbelief at how quickly it was all over. <div id="paragraph-9"> <div> “It took us a second to be like, ‘No, no. Like, you just won The Block.’ And I think I was a bit of a stunned mullet,” Maddy said. </div> </div> <div id="paragraph-10"> <div> “I was expecting anticipation and to be, like, ‘Oh, what’s gonna happen next?’ It was like, ‘Well, you’ve won.’ It’s like … time to go. It was the quickest auction of the day; it was over so quickly.” </div> </div> Coming in second were Courtney and Grant with $1,300,050 profit, followed by Kristian and Mimi in third place with $1,030,000. Fourth were Haydn and Ricky who made $750,000 and coming in last, but still smiling, were Kylie and Brad who made $650,000. Kylie, who was embroiled in much on-screen drama this season, said all the hardships of the show were worth it, and they were happy with their result. "It was worth it," she said. "Unfortunately. Because I was a different person here. But… we made it. We're very grateful." Millionaire "Lambo guy" Adrian Portelli made a splash at what he said would be his final Block auction, as he ended up spending $15,030,000 in one day and breaking a Block record by purchasing every single house. Image credits: Nine

The cost of living is biting. Here’s how to spend less on meat and dairy

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a> The cost of groceries has risen substantially <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/monthly-consumer-price-index-indicator/may-2023">over the last year</a>. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose by 7.9% in the year to May, with biggest increases in dairy products (15.1%), breads and cereals (12.8%) and processed foods (11.5%). Meat costs rose by 3.8%, but the absolute increase was high, with a kilo of fillet steak costing up to A$60 for a kilogram. Australians spend around <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6530.0Main+Features12009-10?OpenDocument">15% of their weekly food budget</a> on meat and half that (7.4%) on dairy products. About <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/cost-of-living-report">43% of householders</a> say grocery prices are a cause of financial stress, with half trying to reduce spending. So how can you save money on meat and dairy products without skimping on nutrients? <h2>Meat</h2> <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/lean-meat-and-poultry-fish-eggs-tofu-nuts-and-seeds-and">Meat</a> is a good source of protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12. Recommendations are for a maximum of three serves of cooked lean red meat a week. This includes beef, lamb, veal, pork, or kangaroo, with a serve being 65g cooked, which equates to 90–100g raw. This means purchasing 270–300g per person per week. Check prices online and weekly specials. Less expensive cuts include oyster blade, chuck or rump steak ($22–$25 per kilogram). They can be tougher, making them better for casseroles or slow cook recipes, like this <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/clares-slow-cooked-beef-stroganoff">beef stroganoff</a>. One exception is mince because higher star, lower fat, more expensive products shrink less during cooking compared to regular mince, which shrinks by 25–30%. Extend casserole and mince dishes by adding vegetarian protein sources, such as dried or canned beans and legumes. A 400g can of red kidney beans costs about $1.50 and contains 240g of cooked beans, equivalent to 1.6 standard serves. Add a can of any type of legume (black, adzuki, cannelloni, butter, chickpeas, four-bean mix, brown lentils) or use dried versions that don’t need pre-soaking like dried red lentils at about $5 per kilogram. This <a href="https://www.glnc.org.au/resource/legumes-nutrition/">adds nutrients</a> including protein, B vitamins, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and dietary fibre. <h2>Dairy</h2> Dairy products are important sources of protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and vitamins A, B2 and B12. <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/recommended-number-serves-adults">Australian recommendations</a> are for two to three serves a day for adults and four serves for women over 50. One serve is <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/serve-sizes">equivalent to</a> a cup of milk or 40g cheese. Fresh milk costs between $1.50 and $3.00 per litre depending on type and brand, while UHT milk is cheaper, about $1.60 per litre. It’s even cheaper to buy powdered milk ($10 per kilogram pack, which makes ten litres), equating to $1 per litre. Making yoghurt at home costs about $5–6 per kilogram using a powder mix and yoghurt maker ($25). Once set, divide into smaller tubs yourself. Use as a substitute for cream or sour cream. Fresh yoghurt varies from $11–$18 per kilogram, with individual serves and flavoured varieties more expensive (but not always). Compare per kilogram or per 100g prices and check for specials. Cheese prices vary a lot so compare prices per kilogram. As a guide, block cheese is cheaper than pre-sliced or grated cheese. Home brand products are cheaper than branded ones. Mature cheeses are more expensive and processed cheese least expensive. But, if you cut block cheese really thick you end up using more. Block cheese ranges from $15 to $30 a kilogram, while packets of pre-sliced cheese vary from $18 to over $30. Pre-grated cheeses range from $14 to $30 per kilo, with most around $20, and processed cheese varies from $10 to $15. Extend grated cheese by mixing with grated carrot (about $2 a kilogram) and use as a topper for tacos, wraps, pasta and pizza. Use processed cheese slices for toasted sandwiches. Most recipes work adding less cheese than specified. A high-calcium alternative to cheese in sandwiches is canned salmon, but at $15–$30 per kilogram ($6–$7 per 210g can) you add variety but may not save money. <h2>3 tips to save on your food bills</h2> 1. Have a household food budget Ensure everyone is on the same page about <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/how-to-save-money-at-the-supermarket">saving money on food and drinks</a>. <a href="https://www.suncorpgroup.com.au/news/features/food-for-thought-australians-spend-272-billion-on-food-annually">About 50% of household food dollars</a> are spent on takeaway, eating out, coffee, alcohol, food-delivery services and extras, so have a budget for <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/discretionary-food-and-drink-choices">discretionary</a> food items. This is where you can make big savings. Your household might need an incentive to stick to the budget, like voting on which “discretionary” items food dollars get spent on. 2. Have a rough weekly meal plan Use your meal plan to write a grocery list. Check <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/ingredient-swaps-to-limit-supermarket-trips-during-lockdown">what you already have</a> in the pantry, fridge and freezer. If you’re not sure where to start, look at ours at <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au">No Money No Time</a>, <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/take-our-nmnt-2-week-food-budget-challenge-and-eat-for-55-a-week">either for one person</a> or a <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/ebooks-meal-plans-more/feeding-a-growing-family-on-a-budget-meal-plan-1">family with young children</a>. 3. Avoid food waste Australians <a href="https://www.ozharvest.org/food-waste-facts/">waste 7.6 million tonnes of food</a> each year yet 70% is edible. Before heading to the shops, check your <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/creating-kitchen-space-for-christmas-and-preventing-food-waste-too">fridge</a>. Turn <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/managing-kitchen-stock-and-using-leftovers-to-minimise-food-waste">leftovers</a> into tomorrow’s lunch or dinner. When clearing the dinner table, pack leftovers straight into lunch containers so it’s grab and go in the morning (or freeze for days you’re too busy to cook). Use our resources at <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs?search=budget">No Money No Time</a> for ideas on how to help your food dollars go further. If you need food help right now, the <a href="https://askizzy.org.au/">Ask Izzy</a> website can locate services in your area.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206703/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-cost-of-living-is-biting-heres-how-to-spend-less-on-meat-and-dairy-206703">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

8 bite-sized renovations you can do on the weekend

We’re all time poor but that doesn’t mean you have to develop renovation inertia. By chunking down the big tasks you need to do around your home into bite-sized, weekend-worthy nibbles you can power through a number of renovation items piece by manageable piece. 1. Replace your handles Upgrading your old, tired <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/why-reddit-is-losing-it-over-doorknobs-20160323-gnpe5q/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">door handles</a> is as simple as measuring the distance between the holes and searching online or in store to find a straight replace. Unscrew the old ones, hanging onto the existing screws, as otherwise you may have to cut the ones supplied with the new handles to size, and screw the new ones in place. Simple. 2. Changing cupboard fronts A wonderful visual upgrade, you need to check that your kitchen has standard-sized cupboards for this to be an easy weekend upgrade. Standard cupboard and drawer sizes will have plenty of options in stores and online. You’ll need to check the location of hinges, the height and width of fronts and the condition of your carcasses but by unscrewing and replacing cupboards you can transform your kitchen or bathroom cabinets completely. You’ll find some <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/cabinet-fever-on-the-rise-20120706-21kkk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interesting colour, texture and pattern options</a> The only impediment is your creativity. 3. Paint your doors While painting your whole home might be a bit more than you can manage in one sitting, a nice bite-sized job is to apply a couple of coats of <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/for-the-love-of-the-coloured-front-door-20151127-gl5boi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coloured paint to your existing internal and external doors</a>. Sure, you might not get through them all in one weekend but you can chip away at this task after work or in the mornings and add amazing contrast and interest to your interior scheme. Remember to use an enamel paint for doors and timber work. 4. Replace your shower head and toilet seats One of the things I do routinely when moving into a new property is replace the shower head with a new one. Most replacement shower heads come with thread tape and you don’t need to be a plumber to do this straight replace as it doesn’t interrupt the fitting connection. If you can manage that the toilet seat replacement is a cinch. 5. Regrouting tiles Scrape out any old or worn grout and replace with a new colour or a replacement of the existing. A word to the wise – don’t grout floors in white as they will be mid grey in no time. 6. Replace bathroom accessories Another quick trip to the hardware store or bathroom supplier and you can <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/budget-bathroom-makeovers-can-make-big-difference-20150703-gi12es/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">give your bathroom a facelift</a> to complement that lovely new shower head. 7. Fill gaps and scrapes There are different fillers for different tasks. A quick-dry, all-purpose one like Selley’s Rapid Filler is great for scratches and scrapes on walls or filling in bumps in timber work before painting. Fill gaps between skirtings, cornices and walls with no more gaps. Use a two-part filler like builders bog for areas that need a more hard-wearing but still sandable solution. 8. Remove redundant “features” and install new ones Pulling out old, dated or worn shelving and storage cabinets can free up wall space and liberate your rooms from a tired look. Installing wall hung units or floating shelves can give you an opportunity to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/advice/moving-house-how-to-let-it-go-declutter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clear your home of clutter</a> or create a place for you to best display your favourite items. Written by Darren Palmer. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain.com.au.</a> Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

Young woman loses all four limbs to mozzie bites

A woman has shared her story of waking up from a coma to discover all four of her limbs had been amputated. Tatiana Timon, 35, was on a dream trip to Angola, South Africa, as part of a dance group, but her health took a turn for the worse when she arrived back home in Camberwell, South London. The 35-year-old had spent 10 days in Angola before flying home and within days her health had declined, leaving her extremely weak. Tatiana was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed she had contracted a deadly form of malaria. She had contracted the disease from a mosquito bite while overseas in May 2022. Her condition quickly worsened and she was put into an induced coma after developing sepsis. “All of my friends and family were worried because the doctor was telling them that I was going to die, like I was about to die three times", she told MyLondon. In order to stop blood poisoning from spreading to her vital organs, doctors were forced to amputate all four limbs. “When I woke up from the coma I knew, I saw that I was in hospital, and I knew something had happened to me", she said. “At that time I didn’t know how bad it was, like I just knew something had happened.” Tatiana says she strives to come independent and is fitted with prosthetic arms and legs. She shares frequent updates on her Instagram page and vows to stay positive during this hard time. "Now even without limbs I know that I will go back to the gym”, she wrote on one post. “I am determined to go back to being my healthy self, mentally and physically.” Tatiana is currently fundraising with hopes of buying new prosthetics which come with a hefty price tag, costing up to $294,100. “A negative thing I can turn into a positive thing to make my life easier because I don’t like to stress. “It happened, so I need to deal with it.” Image credit: Instagram/Facebook

Body

Another Project host bites the dust

First it was Carrie Bickmore, then Lisa Wilkinson and on Tuesday night’s episode another Project host announced their departure from the news program. Comedian and regular co-host on Channel 10’s news program Peter Helliar announced that he will be leaving the show after eight years. “These things come in threes and it’s time for me to say I will be leaving The Project soon,” he said. “It’s been something on my mind for a while. People will read into the situation however they want to read into it, but I feel like I need to create some space for some projects I want to work on. “I've been able to juggle over the years, you guys have seen me do How to Stay Married and stand-up and books over the years, but I feel like there are some new areas that I'm going into hopefully next year that I need to be present for.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> After nearly 8 years at the desk, Peter Helliar will be leaving The Project. Here is the moment he made the announcement. <a href="https://t.co/k1i19lWcM5">pic.twitter.com/k1i19lWcM5</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1594974702744707072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> An emotional Helliar then quoted Carrie when she shared her news saying that he will also continue loving the show. “You said that you are glad you're leaving The Project while you still love it, and I still love this show. I really do,” he continued. “It means a lot to me. It's done amazing things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once and that meant a lot, and I look forward to seeing what the show is like in the future. “I'm pretty sure there are no more announcements and I can't wait to see what you and Kyle and Jackie O do with the show next year,” he said to Waleed Aly. Helliar has another two more weeks on the show, while Carrie has four more days. She jokingly wished Waleed Aly good luck for remaining. But the real question now is, will Waleed Aly quit next? According to entertainment reporter Peter Ford, the program has received quite a bit of backlash in the past year that it would not be surprising if Aly quit next. “I can’t think of a TV show that has been as polarising and has divided opinion as much as The Project, but it’s not mandatory to watch,” he said. “It’s increasing and increasing, and partly it is because on Twitter, people love to be angry, they want to be outraged and they want to bring someone or something down, so you have to allow that haters are going to hate. “But The Project has become a brand name that seems to get people angry, and I don’t know why that is. It’s odd – nobody is being forced to watch it.” He did however say that Aly may get away with it because he doesn’t have social media and doesn’t acknowledge the bad press toward him. Image: The Project

News

Why mozzies bite some more than others

While summer brings with it days on the beach and nights outside enjoying the balmy weather, another, more unpleasant summer fixture also comes out in droves: mosquitoes. Although some of us dread being covered in itchy bites, there are others who mosquitoes seem to ignore - and now scientists have part of the answer explaining why. Researchers from Rockefeller University have found that mosquitoes are attracted to people based on the smell of their skin, created through a blend of particular acids. Focusing on Aedes aegypti, the mosquito which carries viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika virus, the team used samples of human forearm odour collected on nylon stockings from 64 people, performing more than 2300 tests over 174 days across a three-year study. They found that people who were highly attractive to the mosquitoes had significantly higher levels of carboxylic acids which contribute to their skin odour. These carboxylic acids are produced when bacteria on the skin breaks down steroids and cholesterol secreted by our sweat glands. "We tested mosquito attraction to human skin odour and identified people who are exceptionally attractive or unattractive to mosquitoes," they wrote. "Chemical analysis revealed that highly attractive people produce significantly more carboxylic acids in their skin [than others]." They also noted that there weren’t any chemicals found in higher levels on the skin of less attractive people and argued that this supports the idea that people’s skin lack attractive odours, rather than emitting an odour that repels mosquitoes. As for why some people have higher levels of these chemicals in their skin odour than others, the researchers suggested that genetics may play a role. "Understanding why some humans are more attractive than others provides insights into what skin odorants are most important to the mosquito and could inform the development of more effective ... repellents," they wrote. The study, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cell</a>, isn’t the first time scientists have attempted to understand why some people are more attractive to mozzies than others - and there are plenty of reasons why. Mosquito researcher Dr Cameron Webb from the University of Sydney told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-19/nt-mosquitoes-study/101548550" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a> it could be to do with genetics, as well as your temperature, your diet, whether you’re sweaty or even whether you’re pregnant. Dr Gordana Rasic, a senior mosquito research officer at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland, explained that the factors driving the behaviour of mozzies are “very complex”. "Mosquito brains are small but they still process signals from hundreds and hundreds of different receptors," she said. "Biting humans is specific to female mosquitoes — they need to bite humans and take blood in order to develop their egg and basically reproduce — so it's an absolutely essential instinct." While this study adds a new piece to the puzzle of mozzie behaviour, Dr Webb noted that this study focused on one mosquito species out of thousands of species around the world. "Even if you solve the problem for one mosquito, that doesn't mean the relationship and their willingness to bite people applies to all of the mozzies," he said. Image: Getty Images

Body

Tragedy as Aussie boy dies from mosquito bite

A nine-year-old boy from Western Australia has tragically died from dengue fever while on holiday with his family. Glenn Pulgadas had been on holiday with his parents, Glenn and Ryza, in the Philippines to see extended family when he was bitten by a mosquito. According to the <a title="www.abc.net.au" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-30/wa-boy-dies-dengue-fever-in-philippines-warning-travellers/101386032">ABC</a>, the boy began feeling unwell on August 12th and was admitted to hospital. He was described as being “weak in appearance” with headaches, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and nose bleeds. Glenn then went into dengue shock syndrome which typically includes clamminess, a rapid weak pulse and narrowing of pulse pressure. These symptoms then led to organ failure, with Glenn tragically passing away on August 25th. The young boy is being remembered as "bright and bubbly" by all who knew him. “Glenn was a bright, bubbly, young boy who was so full of life and always had a smile on his face,” said family friend Danielle Zarzycki. Glenn's hometown community of Harvey has launched a <a title="www.gofundme.com" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/glenn-pulgadas-memorial">GoFundMe</a> page to raise money for funeral expenses which has so far reached more than $9000. One of the top donators, who gave $1,000 to Glenn's family, is local St Anne’s School, where Glenn was a year three student. Dengue fever is spread via the bite of some species of mosquito. Three out of four people who contract dengue won’t even get sick, and for those who do the symptoms can be mild and they often recover in a matter of days. About one in 20 people who become sick with dengue will be hit by a severe form and in the worst cases, the disease can lead to shock, internal bleeding and death. Image credits: Facebook

Caring

Japanese encephalitis virus contracted in Victoria claims its first victim

Victorians are being warned to protect themselves from mosquito bites after Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/fresh-warnings-after-spread-of-mosquito-born-disease">contracted locally for the first time</a>. A Victorian man has died from the virus, the Victorian Department of Health announced yesterday after Australia’s acting chief medical officer declared a national alert about the spread of JEV. The Victorian man, who was from the state's north and aged in his 60s, died on 28th of February. An autopsy has since revealed JEV was the cause of his death, with investigations into how he contracted the virus now underway. The man's death is the first JEV death in the state, while seven cases have been found in the same state this year. Victoria Deputy Chief Health Officer Associate Professor Deborah Friedman said before now JEV had only ever been acquired overseas. "This is the first time that Victoria has ever had locally acquired cases of Japanese encephalitis virus," she said. Associate Professor Friedman called on people to protect themselves against mosquitos, with JEV spread through the bite of an infected insects. Health Minister Martin Foley echoed the same advice, saying "if you're around mosquitos, please cover up". Associate Professor Friedman said mosquito levels were high across the state, particularly in northern Victoria, increasing the risk of infection. Most humans who contract the virus do not experience any symptoms, or only mild symptoms like headaches or fever.

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Shark bites are rare. Here are 8 things to avoid to make them even rarer

Shark bite incidents are <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/odds/how-where-when/">rare</a> but traumatic. They’re usually followed by calls for <a href="https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/sharks-a-history-of-fear-in-australia/">mitigation</a> <a href="https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v631/p165-179/">strategies</a>, some of which are dangerous or lethal to sharks – despite the fact most sharks are timid and actively <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266853603_Monitoring_the_effects_of_tourism_on_whale_shark_Rhincodon_typus_behaviour_in_Mozambique">avoid people</a>. The “<a href="https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/sharksmart">SharkSmart</a>” approach, adopted by the Queensland government, aims to educate and urge people to take responsibility for reducing the risk of shark bites by changing their own behaviour. But can humans change? To find out, we teamed up with three companies in the sailing charter industry in the Whitsundays area to better understand how people were using the environment, their knowledge of shark smart behaviours and to see if promoting SharkSmart behaviours led to change. We <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-shark-control-program/resource/27af7dc2-73c5-4752-81c0-d6c8374c92e1">found</a> people can and do change behaviour as a result of education – but for some, unfortunately, a “she’ll be right” attitude still prevails. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381253/original/file-20210129-17-1tc89vl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3159%2C2090&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381253/original/file-20210129-17-1tc89vl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3159%2C2090&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Sharks swim in clear waters." /></a> People must take responsibility for reducing the risk of shark bites by changing their own behaviour. Shutterstock <h2>Doing your part to be SharkSmart</h2> Previous surveys had shown many water-users were already aware of many ways to reduce shark risk but there was <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2018/10/experts-weigh-in-on-the-whitsundays-shark-encounters">room for improvement</a>. Many SharkSmart behaviours are well known, such as not swimming at dusk or dawn when sharks may be more prevalent. But we wanted to find out what else people were doing in the water and see if some key SharkSmart interventions made a difference. The interventions included: <ul> <li>showing people a short <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d17id9NOR6s&feature=youtu.be">video</a> before they went out on the water</li> <li>putting stickers on boats to remind people how to reduce shark risk</li> <li>making SharkSmart brochures available to guests on boats</li> <li>dedicated waste disposal bags were given to two of the charter boat operators, with the third acting as a control group.</li> </ul> <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d17id9NOR6s?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> We did surveys before and after these SharkSmart tools were introduced to see what changed. We particularly wanted to know whether people were less likely to do eight things linked to higher shark risk in the Whitsundays area: 1. splashing in the water 2. swimming alone 3. swimming near fishers 4. swimming at spots where shark bites have occurred in the past (in this case, in <a href="https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/shark-control-program/whitsundays-plan">Cid Harbour</a>) 5. throwing fish scraps in the water 6. throwing burley (a type of bait, sometimes known as chum) in the water 7. fishing near swimmers 8. throwing food in the water. <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-shark-control-program/resource/27af7dc2-73c5-4752-81c0-d6c8374c92e1">Research</a> suggests that by not doing these eight things, we can make shark bites even rarer than they already are. As well as the before-and-after surveys, we captured a sample of rubbish coming back on shore. This was so we could get an idea of whether fish and meat were being stored or thrown overboard. We also wanted to see where and when risk might be higher. For example, snorkelling in a busy anchorage or where people are fishing may increase unnecessary dangers. The warmer months of September to December were mapped as potential higher risk for shark bites. <h2>Our findings</h2> We surveyed 228 tourists (92 pre- and 136 post-intervention) and found: <ul> <li>a 8.9% reduction in splashing or making noise when swimming or snorkelling</li> <li>a 4.1% reduction in throwing fish scraps overboard and</li> <li>a 3.8% reduction in people fishing near people swimming.</li> </ul> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381250/original/file-20210129-23-462790.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381250/original/file-20210129-23-462790.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="A poster shows SharkSmart behaviours." /></a> A poster shows SharkSmart behaviours. Queensland Government, Author provided We found most people were aware of these six behaviours: <ul> <li>following local signage</li> <li>having a buddy when swimming, diving or snorkelling</li> <li>avoiding swimming at dawn or dusk</li> <li>swimming in clear water</li> <li>keeping fish waste and food scraps out of the water where people swim</li> <li>avoiding swimming with schools of bait fish or diving birds.</li> </ul> The lowest awareness was for the last one, but after our intervention we saw a 4.7% increase in knowledge of this behaviour. Although 100% of people were aware of the need to keep fish waste and food scraps out of the water, our pre-surveys between August and October last year found about one-third of tourists still disposed of fish scraps into the water. After the intervention, the share of people doing this dropped to 4-8%. <h2>Shifting the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude</h2> The good news is there is very high awareness of SharkSmart behaviours and most times, people didn’t throw burley in the water, fish near swimmers or swim in Cid Harbour. Unfortunately, some people continued to splash, swim alone and throw fish waste and food scraps in the water. Changing these norms among swimmers and boaties will take time. An attitude of “she’ll be right” still exists among some water users and this group may be the toughest to influence; it’s hard to shift attitudes about dangers among people with such a relaxed attitude to risk. In the Whitsundays and wider Australia, we are lucky to have some of the most incredible beaches, islands and reefs in the world. Most of us are willing to take a small calculated risk to swim in the ocean. Shark bite incidents are <a href="https://taronga.org.au/conservation-and-science/australian-shark-attack-file">extremely rare in Australia</a> but by making small changes, we can drive down the danger even further. Katie Frisch and Gemma Molinaro from Reef Ecologic contributed to this article.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173746/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-smith-515741">Adam Smith</a>, Adjunct Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167">James Cook University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/shark-bites-are-rare-here-are-8-things-to-avoid-to-make-them-even-rarer-173746">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Why mosquitoes prefer to bite some people over others

It’s always you, isn’t it? The person busy swatting away buzzing backyard mosquitoes or nursing an arm full of itchy red lumps after a weekend camping trip. You’re not imagining it – mosquitoes really are attracted to some people more than others. Why do mosquitoes need blood? Only female mosquitoes bite. They do it for the nutrition contained in blood, which helps develop their eggs. Mosquitoes don’t just get blood from people. They’re actually far more likely to get it from biting animals, <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-australian-wildlife-spread-and-suppress-ross-river-virus-107267">birds</a>, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-18/australian-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-winners/7753248">frogs</a> and reptiles. They even <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0096-5">bite earthworms</a>. But some mosquitoes specifically target people. One of the worst culprits is the Aedes aegypti species, which spreads <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html">dengue</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/">yellow fever</a> viruses. Another that prefers humans are the Anopheles mosquitoes, responsible for spreading the parasites that cause <a href="https://www.who.int/malaria/en/">malaria</a>. How do mosquitoes find us? Most mosquitoes will get their blood from whatever is around and don’t necessarily care if they’re biting one person or another. Although it’s our blood they’re after, there is no strong indicator they prefer a particular blood type over another. Some studies have <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/41/4/796/885285">suggested they prefer people with type O blood</a> but that’s unlikely to be the case for all types of mosquitoes. Whether we’re picked out of a crowd may come down to heavy breathing and skin smell. When they need blood, mosquitoes can pick up on the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-hostfinding-by-mosquitoes-diptera-culicidae-a-review/2506B86EF63852B2D02EC3FCEE1E3B8B">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale. Around the world, carbon dioxide is one of the most common “baits” used to attract and collect mosquitoes. If you’re exhaling greater volumes of carbon dioxide, you’re probably an easier target for mosquitoes. When the mosquito gets closer, she is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214574517300342">responding to a range of stimuli</a>. Perhaps it’s <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471492210002618">body heat and sweat</a>: exercise that increases body temperature and perspiration can attract mosquitoes. Perhaps it’s body size: studies indicate <a href="https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/article/96/2/113/1909983">pregnant women are more likely to be bitten</a> by mosquitoes. How hairy are you? Mosquitoes may have a tough job finding a path through to your skin if there is an abundance of body hair. More than anything else, though, it’s about the smell of your skin. Hundreds of chemicals are sweated out or emitted by our body’s bacteria. The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214574517300536">cocktail of smells they create</a> will either attract or deter mosquitoes. It’s not just who they bite but where Mosquitoes could also have a preference for different parts of the body. One study showed mosquitoes are more attracted to hands and feet <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep27141">than armpits</a>, but that just turned out to be because of deodorant residues. Mosquitoes may also be more attracted to our feet: studies have shown cheese sharing similar bacteria to that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15275226">found between our toes</a> attracts mosquitoes! Who is to blame for this misery? It’s not your diet. There is no evidence that what you eat or drink will prevent mosquito bites. Some food or drink may subtly change how many mosquitoes are likely to bite you but it won’t make that much difference. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/129">Eating bananas</a> or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2832015/">drinking beer</a> has been shown to marginally increase the attraction of mosquitoes but the results aren’t enough to suggest any dietary change will reduce your mosquito bites. That’s why our supermarket shelves aren’t full of “mozzie repellent” pills. Your irresistibility to mosquitoes may not be your fault. Blame your parents. Studies have shown the chemicals responsible for the “<a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/2230769">skin smell</a>” that attracts mosquitoes has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4406498/">a high level of heritability</a> when twins are exposed to biting mosquitoes. What can you do about it? We have to be careful about generalisations. There are thousands of types of mosquitoes around the world and all will have a different preference for what or who to bite. And the attraction of individuals and the scenario that plays out in one part of the world may be much different in another. Remember, it only takes one mosquito bite to transmit a pathogen that could make you sick. So whether you’re a mosquito magnet or feeling a little invisible because you’re not bitten so often, don’t be complacent and <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-best-and-worst-ways-to-beat-mosquito-bites-70274">use insect repellents</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/128788/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/feel-like-youre-a-mozzie-magnet-its-true-mosquitoes-prefer-to-bite-some-people-over-others-128788">original article</a>.

Body

Teachers saved student’s life after highly venomous snake bite

Teachers of a Victorian primary school have been credited with saving the life of a 12-year-old student who was bitten twice by one of the world’s most venomous snakes. Deakin Hawke from West Gippsland was on a week-long school excursion to Canberra in October when he was attacked by an eastern brown snake, considered <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2012/07/australias-10-most-dangerous-snakes/">the world’s second most toxic land snake</a>. Within ten minutes of being bitten in the leg, the boy collapsed and stopped breathing. Teacher Candie Ell If-Williams told <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/teachers-quick-thinking-saves-student-after-deadly-snake-bite-on-school-camp-c-601494">Sunrise</a> that she “went into autopilot” and applied a pressure immobilisation bandage to the leg to slow the venom from spreading while another began CPR. School principal Brad Wheller said he also took a photo of the snake for identification. “That’s when we made a call to 000,” he said. Hawke was rushed to a hospital and made a full recovery. Natalie Sindrey of St John Ambulance said the 12-year-old might not have survived had it not been for the first aid medical treatment from his teachers. “Straight after the bite they did an amazing job at doing the resuscitation, which is what they needed to do to keep him alive,” Sindrey told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/teachers-save-students-life-after-deadly-snake-bite-during-camp-032807885.html">Sunrise</a>. According to <a href="https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/stories/outback-survival-snakes-and-snakebites/">Royal Flying Doctor Service</a>, there are around 3,000 snakebites in Australia every year, with 550 hospitalisations. “Snakebite first aid can be very effective if done quickly,” the organisation said. “Bandage and immobilise the bite area and dial 000 for help immediately.”

Caring

“It hurts”: Roger Federer’s crushing admission after nail-biting Wimbledon finals loss

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were on the verge of causing a worldwide meltdown after an intense Wimbledon final that will forever be remembered. After an epic four-hour-and 57-minute-long match, Djokovic emerged as the victor in the longest men’s final the All England Club has ever witnessed. The final set on its own went for two hours with the champions hoping to one up each other with every move they made. In the end, it was the Serbian who came out on top 7-6 1-6 7-6 4-6 13-12 (7-3) as the world watched the first ever fifth set tiebreak at the iconic major. Devastated, Federer was unable to take advantage of two championship points in the fifth set and was the player who fell short on a day that will be considered iconic for tennis fans. Former British star Tim Henman said on the BBC broadcast, it’s a match “the tennis world will reflect on for a long time to come”. And he wasn’t the only one who held those sentiments, as viewers at home took to Twitter to express their disbelief at the game they just witnessed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Unbelievable scenes. Novak Djokovic saves two match points and breaks. 8-8 in the fifth. Four hours and 13 minutes gone. Utter madness. — George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) <a href="https://twitter.com/BellshawGeorge/status/1150455918984871937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Amazing! Djokovic wins his 5th <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a>. What a final! <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> played an unbelievably good match but somehow <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> wins after saving multiple match points. There is no limit to the amount of pressure this man can handle. Superhuman stuff! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> — Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPatCash/status/1150467312694284288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> I have such huge respect for both <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a>. What a match... wouldn’t have minded to see it go on a little longer 😊 Congrats Novak on another <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wimbledon</a>! — Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) <a href="https://twitter.com/KAndersonATP/status/1150474987687620614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> Despite being crowned the winner, Djokovic was too exhausted to celebrate, but he made sure to pay tribute to his opponent during his on-court interview. “I think this was, if not the most exciting and thrilling final I was ever part of, then definitely top two or three in my career against one of the greatest players of all time in Roger, who I respect a lot,” he said. “Unfortunately, in these kind of matches, one of the players has to lose. “It’s quite unreal to be two match points down and come back … and quite strange to play a tie-break at 12-all too. “I know I’ve said this before but when I was a boy … this always has been the tournament for me. It’s where I wanted to participate and where I wanted to win one day.” Federer cemented his nice guy status. Despite being crushed from his loss, he still found time to praise Djokovic for his performance. “It was a great match. It was long, it had everything,” he said. “I had my chances, so did he, we played some great tennis so in a way I’m happy with my performance as well. “But Novak, congratulations man, that was great. That was crazy. “I hope I give people the chance to believe, at 37, it’s not over yet.” In his post-match conference, Federer was visibly down but still tried to remain optimistic for having the opportunity of making history. “I mean, all of us working in this sport, we know what a great sport it is. I don’t think we need matches, per se. Maybe we need them to sometimes cross over to other sports, maybe get to the fans in the streets and so forth. If that’s the case, that this match did something like this, I think that’s great,” said the Swiss champ. “I think it was a great match with wonderful points played. It had everything. Novak played also amazing today. So I hope it resonates in a big way. “You try to take the good things out of this match. There’s just tons of it. “Like similar to 2008 maybe, I will look back and think, ‘Well, it’s not that bad after all’. For now, it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon. “I think it’s a mindset. I’m very strong at being able to move on because I don’t want to be depressed about actually an amazing tennis match.” His battle against Rafael Nadal in 2008 at the All England Club is widely considered to be one of the greatest games the sport has ever seen, and now, with Sunday's epic final, fans and experts can’t help but draw comparisons. But despite the intensity and power of the two matches, the only thing the 37-year-old can focus on is the end result. “Sure, epic ending, so close, so many moments. Yeah, I mean, sure there’s similarities. But you’ve got to go dig, see what they are,” Federer said. “I’m the loser both times, so that’s the only similarities I see.” And while members of the media snickered after hearing that last line, it’s obvious that behind the smile, Federer is crushed that he couldn’t leave London with the one thing he wanted most.

News

Duchess Meghan fans bite back at mum shamers: “She was doting on him”

The Duchess of Sussex appears to be loving life as a new mum and on Wednesday, the royal <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/archie-s-first-official-outing-the-royal-babies-steal-the-spotlight-from-their-dads" target="_blank">had her first public outing with two-month-old Archie</a> along with his big cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The family watched on as Prince Harry and brother-in-law Prince William went head to head in a charity polo match, and photographs released of the fun day out showed the Duchess doting on her new bundle of joy. “She was doting on him, there’s no doubt about that,” an onlooker told <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-doting-archie-first-outing-polo-match/" target="_blank">PEOPLE</a>. “She was kissing and stroking him and bouncing him up and down.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828528/new-project-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b884ffd34799433082c2ecc88832bd1c" /> Critics, however, took to social media to share their distaste for the way the Duchess was holding her son in a way that made him look like he was about to fall out of her arms. “Meghan looks like she’s about to drop him” one comment read. “She is also not able to hold the baby.” Another cruel comment said: “You can tell she doesn’t even take care of her own kid. What kind of mother holds their baby like that.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828527/new-project-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/efa965cbca524521bd9ddcc4613fc90b" /> However, royal supporters hit back at the cruel criticisms, writing: “She’s still new to it and we’ve all held our babies awkwardly.” Another said: “She’s a brand-new mother. Stop the damn mum-shaming! Jesus!” Maternity nurse and author Lisa Clegg told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabulous Digital</a> she didn’t see any issue with the way the Duchess was holding baby Archie. “To me, her body language looks like she’s holding him in a very protective way, by supporting his bottom and the top of his back, so she’s ready to catch that inevitable head flip they sometimes do, until they learn better head and neck control. “Is it surprising that she’s holding him very close and in such a protective nature, when she has the world looking at her?” Along with baby Archie and the Duchess of Sussex was the Duchess of Cambridge who was also doting on her youngest son, 15-month-old Prince Louis. Wednesday’s royal outing was part of a charity scheme which saw Prince Harry and Prince William battle it out for a charity polo game in honour of Leicester City Football Club owner, who tragically died in a helicopter crash last year.

Caring

Woman's dangerous find after biting into Woolies sausage: “That's awful”

A woman has made a scary discovery as she enjoyed a meal with food bought from retail giant Woolworths. She shared her experience on a public Facebook page where she tagged the store and said that she was “not happy” about finding a piece of glass in her kransky sausage. “Found a piece of glass in my kransky from Woolworths,” she wrote. “Thanks a lot guys now my tooth hurts.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D10211019749049991%26set%3Da.1107461947081%26type%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="613" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Her friends were quick to offer suggestions on how to contact Woolworths, with one explaining that the kranskys from the deli come prepackaged. “The kranskys from the deli come pre packaged. I would definitely contact the store as that batch could all be contaminated and they would contact the manufacturer,” they wrote. Others tried to find the lighter side to the situation. “At least you didn’t swallow it,” said one man. Woolworths reached out, saying that it was “very concerned” about the shard of glass. “Hey Cassie, we're very concerned to see what was found in your kransky and would like to investigate this ASAP,” they wrote. A spokesperson from Woolworths told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/woman-dangerous-find-woolworths-kransky-085607020.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a> that they are aware of the incident. “The details will be reported to the supplier who makes the product, and we stand ready to assist them as they investigate the matter,” the spokesperson said. “We’re not aware of any other reports of a similar nature about this product at this time.”

Food & Wine

Anthony Albanese bites back at critic: “Thanks for the advice mate”

The new Labor leader may just be days into the job but he has already gotten a new influential leader offside. Anthony Albanese may be well on his way to repeating a deadly mistake former Labor leader Bill Shorten made by choosing not to support the controversial mining project Adani. However, he has proven he will not go down without his tongue firmly in his cheek after biting back at the former Queensland premier Campbell Newman. Albanese’s fence-sitting stance on Adani has caused grumblings in Queensland, which showed a huge swing against the Labor party in the Federal election. Mr Newman took to Twitter to voice his disapproval with Mr Albanese’s stance. “Memo to @AlboMP,” Newman wrote. “If you are visiting Qld today and you can't bring yourself to totally & unequivocally back our coal industry and support @AdaniAustralia then you & the ALP have not listened.” Mr Albanese swiftly responded, thanking the former premier for his advice – but not without a cutting few words afterwards. ““Thanks for the advice mate but you went from 78 seats to 42 in one term, including losing your own seat and @QLDLabor went from 7 into Govt #JustSaying,” he tweeted. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Thanks for the advice mate but you went from 78 seats to 42 in one term including losing your own seat and <a href="https://twitter.com/QLDLabor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QLDLabor</a> went from 7 into Govt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustSaying?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JustSaying</a> — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1133369496540930048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2019</a></blockquote> The cutting comment by Albanese received over 4000 likes on Twitter, with many mixed replies from the public. “Bom bom! Take that Newman,” one comment read. Another read: “This response is not what I would expect of someone looking to hold the position of Prime Minister,” which received a reply saying: “Sounds like a win to me.” “Well said Albo, I’ve been trying to tell him the same thing for awhile now, he just won’t get it or go away, the bloke is a pest and is now just taking cheap shots, don’t put up with his garbage that’s for sure,” a user commented. The Labor leader made his way to Queensland this week in hopes to repair damage down in the past by his own party and win back voters who went another way during the Federal election. In the past, Mr Albanese has voiced his disdain for anti-Adani activists who toured parts of Australia during the election campaign. “The truth is that that was incredibly provocative and did nothing to advance, in my view, a genuine debate about climate change,” he said. “On climate change, the science is in. We need to act. But to reduce it to a debate about a single mine is in my view very unproductive, it does nothing to advance the debate. “Good policy is about jobs, as well as about clean energy, as well as about making sure that we take the community with us.”

News

Sam Armtage shocks colleagues after revealing bizarre mosquito bite hack

Samantha Armytage left her Channel Seven colleagues looking in shock when she revealed the bizarre way she gets rid of mosquito bite itches. “Sounds painful,” Kylie Gillies exclaimed, as David 'Kochie' Koch admitted he had never heard of her solution. Promoting The Morning Show, Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur told Sunrise viewers they would be revealing a foolproof way to ease mosquito bite itches. Viewers didn’t have to wait long because Sam jumped in with her own suggestion. “That's the old put your fingernail in it like a cross in the mozzie bite,” Sam said with gusto, but her colleagues weren’t quite on the same page. “Oh no! We have go no show,” Larry jokingly said, while Kylie winced that it “sounds painful.” <img width="456" height="258" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/28/23/49ADB50400000578-5447359-image-m-37_1519859332416.jpg" alt="'Sounds painful!' Samantha Armytage shocks her Sunrise colleagues after revealing the bizarre way she gets rid of mosquito bite itches" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-a474b88482bc8fbc"/> Sam insisted that her solution “stops the itching” and even asked Kochie: “Haven't you ever done that?” “No!” he quickly replied. Joking, Samantha told Kylie and Larry: “I just gave you another advertorial. You are welcome ... I just cleared the budget for 2018.” While there is no scientific proof to Sam’s mosquito bite tip, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence from people who swear it does work.

Caring

Louisiana chicken bites

These delicious chicken bites from Christchurch’s iconic Sun Dog Diner are unforgettable. Serves: 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on</li> <li>Olive oil</li> <li>salt and pepper</li> <li>1 cup buttermilk</li> <li>2 cups self raising flour</li> <li>1 tablespoon onion powder</li> <li>1 tablespoon garlic powder</li> <li>1 tablespoon salt</li> <li>1 tablespoon smoked paprika</li> <li>1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper</li> </ul> For the blue cheese dip <ul> <li>1 cup sour cream</li> <li>½ cup aioli or mayonnaise</li> <li>50g blue cheese, crumbled</li> <li>pinch of salt</li> </ul> Method: 1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Drizzle olive oil over chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. 2. Place in small roasting dish so breasts are close together but not overlapping. Roast for 20 minutes in the oven or until fully cooked. Allow to cool in the roasting juices. 3. When cool, remove the skins and cut the breasts into bite size pieces. Place the chicken in a bowl and cover with the buttermilk. Allow to sit for at least an hour in the fridge, but the longer it sits the better (even overnight). 4. Heat a small deep fryer to 170 degrees Celsius. Combine dry ingredients in a shallow container. In small amounts, transfer the buttermilk coated chicken into the flour mixture and coat well. Allow to rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes after all pieces are coated. Fry in batches until the crust is golden brown. For the dipping sauce stir together the aioli, sour cream and crumbled cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the cooked chicken bits in hot sauce while still hot. Serve with julienned carrots, celery sticks and the dipping sauce. * Sun Dog Diner, 2 Papanui Rd, Christchurch, New Zealand. Open Tuesday to Thursday 8am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 8am to late and Sunday 8am to 5pm. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a>

Food & Wine

What to eat to stop mozzies from biting you

Cameron Webb, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist at the University of Sydney, tells us what to eat to stop the mozzies from biting. The warm weather is beckoning us into the backyard but pesky bloodsuckers are waiting. Insect repellents are <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-best-and-worst-ways-to-beat-mosquito-bites-70274" target="_blank">safe and effective</a> but many people are reluctant to rub what they perceive to be smelly or sticky on their skin. Wouldn’t it be great if there was something you could eat or drink to protect yourself from mosquito bites? There are plenty of “mozzie busting” gadgets and gimmicks marketed as alternatives to topical formulations. From <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-do-wrist-bands-work-to-repel-mozzies-50186" target="_blank">wrist bands to smartphone apps</a>, the range of products reflects the demand among the public for these products. Unfortunately, <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/article/2996380/Efficacy" target="_blank">few of these provide effective protection</a>. We know <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-why-mosquitoes-seem-to-bite-some-people-more-36425" target="_blank">some people are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes than others</a>, with the <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0028991" target="_blank">bacteria on our skin</a> playing a crucial role in our attractiveness to mosquitoes. Studies indicate <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122716" target="_blank">our parents are mostly to blame</a>, not our diets. Many myths surround the food and drink that may keep mosquitoes at bay but, when it comes to the science behind these theories, it all becomes a bit too hard to swallow. Cheers to mosquito-borne disease Love a <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/foreigners/2013/08/gin_and_tonic_kept_the_british_empire_healthy_the_drink_s_quinine_powder.html" target="_blank">gin and tonic</a>? There was once a time you could sip your way out of a malaria-induced fever. It was more about the tonic than the gin. A key ingredient in tonic water is quinine. Derived from the bark of a cinchona tree, quinine had been identified as a <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0141076816681421" target="_blank">treatment for malaria</a> in the 1960s and although it’s currently not recommended as a first-line treatment, historically it was critically important in battling the parasites that cause malaria. It’s important to note that while it’s thought to be toxic to the parasites, there was no evidence it actually stopped mosquito bites. Also, modern tonic water <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water" target="_blank">hardly contains any quinine</a>. Booze and mosquito bites may actually make a good match. Studies in Africa have demonstrated <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0009546" target="_blank">drinking beer can make you more attractive to mosquitoes</a>. After downing a few glasses of beer, volunteers were found to attract more mosquitoes than those drinking just water. Why? It didn’t seem to be due to body temperature or the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled. Perhaps mosquitoes are evolving to bite drunk people less able to swat the bloodsuckers away? Snacking your way to a bite-free summer? One of the most commonly suggested foods to eat to avoid mosquito bites is the humble banana. Problem is, it seems as many people think eating bananas will make you more attractive to mosquitoes than not! There <a href="http://www.mosquitoreviews.com/bananas.html" target="_blank">isn’t the science to support either claim,</a> but it’s unlikely eating bananas would substantially change the way mosquitoes pick you out from a crowd. If garlic can keep mythic blood suckers away, what about those buzzing about in real life? Nope. Our breath may smell a bit after a garlic-rich meal but a <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0269-283X.2005.00544.x/full" target="_blank">study has shown it does nothing</a> to lessen our attractiveness to mosquitoes. It may actually make us <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7825135" target="_blank">more attractive to vampires, according to science</a>! Beating bloodsuckers with vitamin B? Perhaps one of the most pervasive home remedies perceived to prevent mosquito bites is taking vitamin B. Anecdotal reports, and many personal testimonies, of the effectiveness of this approach abound, but there a few scientific investigations testing the claim. Studies dating back to the 1940s <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/100/2590/147.1" target="_blank">failed to provide proof</a> of protection from mosquito bites after taking vitamin B. More recently, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16033124" target="_blank">a 2005 study</a> showed there was no evidence it influenced the attraction of mosquitoes to human skin-derived chemicals from volunteers taking vitamin B supplements. There is simply no evidence taking vitamin B will offer any significant protection from mosquito bites. In reality, if there was even moderate scientific evidence that taking a vitamin supplement could prevent mosquito bites, our supermarket shelves would be full of “mosquito repellent pills”. It would be wonderful to be able to pop a pill a day to stop mosquito bites but we’re unlikely to have that luxury any time soon. In fact, products marketed as oral insect repellents are not recognised by <a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=310.529" target="_blank">some government agencies</a> given the lack of any compelling evidence to support the claims. Don’t use mosquito bite prevention as an excuse to boost your intake of vegemite either. It may be a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/06/08/vegemite-what-it-is-ways-to-eat-it-and-why-its-so-good_a_21392025/" target="_blank">staple in most Australian households</a>, but it won’t make our summer backyard activities any less bite-prone, no matter how much vitamin B it contains (or how much you spread on your toast). The reality is, if there was great science supporting any of these mosquito bite-blocking claims associated with food and drink, countless companies would be cashing in on selling “mosquito repellent vitamins” and I have little doubt topical insect repellents would disappear from our supermarket shelves. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Do you think you’ll take these tips? Written by Cameron Webb. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.<img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87178/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/>

Domestic Travel

Bad news for shoppers: two more iconic Aussie brands set to bite the dust

Australia’s <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2017/11/bad-news-for-shoppers-300-millers-katies-and-rivers-stores-set-to-close/" target="_blank">retail slump has claimed another victim</a>, with iconic boutique footwear brand Diana Ferrari set to shut all 23 stores and 11 clearance outlets within months. The label, which was founded in 1979, will continue to maintain an online presence. “All Diana Ferrari stores will be closed over the coming months, but our fabulous footwear will continue to be available through our online stores, Mathers, Williams, wholesale stockists and major department stores,” a company statement read. “We truly appreciate and thank all our loyal clothing customers over the last 17 years.” This news comes as plus-size retailer Maggie T has announced it would also be going into administration, with the company reportedly struggling to pay significant debts. Since the announcement, the company has slashed prices of clothing in online sales, with customers able to save as much as 70 per cent on certain products. What are your thoughts? Do you think this is simply a case of retailers failing to respond to a changing environment? Or should more to done to protect iconic Australian brands?

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Louisiana chicken bites

What to eat to stop mozzies from biting you

Bad news for shoppers: two more iconic Aussie brands set to bite the dust

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