Mosquitoes Are a 'Mixed Bag,' WCM Physician Tells the Washington Post

Dr. Ole Vielemeyer

Mosquitoes often get a bad rap. Their bites cause uncomfortable swelling and itching, and they're well-known vectors for several diseases, including malaria, dengue fever and Zika infections.

But the insects aren't necessarily as bad as they seem, said infectious disease expert Dr. Ole Vielemeyer in a recent Washington Post column that asked, "Why can't we just get rid of all the mosquitoes?"

"We see the mosquito as sort of this evil thing," said Dr. Vielemeyer, an associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. "But there are lots of positive things that they do in the ecosystem."

In the newspaper's "Dear Science" advice column, Dr. Vielemeyer explained why mosquitoes bite and why eradicating them may not be the best idea, despite their negative effects in humans.

Head over to the Washington Post to see what he had to say.