New gas to confuse mosquitoes

Jun 03, 2011 |

London

The unpleasant mosquito bites could soon become a thing of the past, as American scientists led by an Indian-origin researcher claim to have developed a gas that confuses the pesky insects and forces them to buzz off.
Researchers from the University of California created three classes of odour molecules that swamp the mosquitoes’ senses, making it next to impossible for them to sniff out human blood.
The breakthrough could lead to new repellent lotions and sprays, as well as gadgets designed to keep rooms and huts free of the biting insects, the researchers said.
The discovery, according to them, would also help in providing protection against mosquito-borne disease such as malaria, dengue and yellow fevers, the Daily Mail reported.

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