Study: Human diet drugs can help mosquitoes stop biting

Friday, February 8, 2019
Study: Human diet drugs help stop mosquito bites
Study: Human diet drugs help stop mosquito bites - Ali Gorman reports during Action News at 5pm on February 8, 2019.

Scientists have found an offbeat way to stop mosquitoes from biting - giving them human diet drugs.

In lab tests, salt water spiked with the drugs killed the mosquitoes' appetite for human blood and the effect lasted for about a week.

While the diet drugs couldn't be used in the wild, the researchers have found a harmless compound which can do the same thing.

Experts say we need new ways to stop mosquitoes, because they're becoming resistant to pesticides.

------

Send a News Tip to Action News

Learn More About 6abc Apps