Awkward moment The project’s host, Waleed Aly, instantly regrets asking the doctor why he always gets bitten by mosquitoes, as an urgent warning is issued about the deadly virus spread by mosquitoes.
- Waleed Aly of the Project was left red in the face by Dr. Ali Zaid
- He asked Dr. Zaid why he gets bitten so much by mosquitoes.
- Dr. Zaid suggested that it could be due to “smelly feet.”
Waleed Aly was left red-faced after a doctor suggested ‘stinky feet’ could be the reason he gets so bitten by mosquitoes.
The Project host spoke with viral immunologist Dr. Ali Zaid following the news that a third person had died from mosquito-borne Murray Valley Encephalitis virus.
Aly broke the serious tone of the interview to ask Dr. Zaid why he is frequently attacked by bloodsucking pests.
“The problem I have is that if there is a mosquito in the country, it will find me and eat me,” said the TV presenter.
‘I’m just one of these people, I’m the first to get bitten at any gathering and it’s endless.’
Dr. Zaid referred to recent studies that showed that there were certain compounds that people released through their odor and sweat that attracted mosquitoes.
“Some of those compounds are also found in, how to put it, smelly feet,” he said.
Waleed Aly from the Project (pictured) was left red in the face after asking Dr. Ali Zaid why he is frequently attacked by mosquitoes.
The panel laughed awkwardly leaving Aly speechless.
“Okay, I may have regretted asking you that question,” he said before ending the interview.
Mosquito numbers have been on the rise in Australia due to the unusually wet weather providing the perfect habitat.
Deadly mosquito-borne diseases, such as Murray Valley Encephalitis, are also on the rise.
Dr Zaid said it’s important for Australians to manage their symptoms after being bitten.
“When people develop clinical symptoms, they start with fever, headaches and nausea and can progress to vomiting,” he said.
‘When the disease progresses to the most severe form of the pathology, this is Encephalitis, which essentially means an inflammation of the brain, and thus neurological symptoms begin to appear.’
Dr Zaid was brought on the show to talk about mosquito-borne diseases after a third Victorian died of Murray Valley Encephalitis earlier this month (file image)
Dr. Zaid (pictured) explained that certain compounds were released through the scent of people that attracted mosquitoes. He added that these compounds can be found in ‘smelly feet’
He added that when symptoms “progress so far” they can lead to death.
Dr. Zaid emphasized that Murray Valley Encephalitis was a “rare disease” as not many cases were reported and most people have no symptoms.
As for protection against mosquitoes, the doctor recommended applying mosquito repellent, avoiding areas that attract mosquitoes, such as a damp area or standing water, and wearing long-sleeved clothing.
It comes when a Victorian man in his 70s died of Murray Valley Encephalitis earlier this month after being potentially exposed to infectious mosquitoes in northern Campaspe Shire, according to the state health department.
Two women in their 60s died last month from the disease.
A small proportion of infected people develop encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain (X-ray image). This can potentially lead to brain damage or death.
The virus has re-emerged in northern Victoria for the first time in nearly 50 years, with infected mosquitoes found in Mildura, Swan Hill, Campaspe, Indigo and Wangaratta.
Many of these areas were affected by severe flooding in late 2022, which provided ideal conditions for the mosquitoes that transmit the virus to breed.
There is no vaccine against Murray Valley encephalitis.
It can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the central nervous system and people are urged to reduce the risk of mosquito bites.