A chemical compound, with the potential to produce an insect repellent thousands of times more effective than anything currently available, has been discovered by scientists at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. The discovery came about accidentally during research to find new ways of fighting malaria. Rob Muir reports.
Dirty socks are also being used to fight Malaria.
Scientists think the musky odor of human feet can be used to attract and kill mosquitoes that carry deadly malaria. The Gates Foundation announced on Wednesday that it will help fund one such pungent project in Tanzania.
If they can be cheaply mass-produced, the traps could provide the first practical way of controlling malaria infections outside. The increased use of bed nets and indoor spraying has already helped bring down transmissions inside homes.
