‘A living hell’: how Los Angeles got taken over by mosquitoes

Heat and humidity have led to one of the worst mosquito years in recent history, with West Nile virus at a decade high Los Angeles might be best known for blue skies, beaches and film premiers — but for the last several years it’s held another, unenviable distinction: the most mosquito-infested city in America .

And this year has been especially nightmarish, thanks to a series of heatwaves and an extra-powerful El Niño .

Locals have called it a summer of “ living hell ” as clouds of mosquitoes swarm backyards and leave diners at open air patios scratching their ankles.

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