Chicken Scent Offers Hope For Malaria Prevention
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published July 26, 2016 | 09:25 PM
ADDIS ABABA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th july, 2016) - Ethiopian scientists have discovered mosquitoes are repulsed by the smell of chicken, raising hopes for the development of a novel way to prevent a disease that kills hundreds of thousands every year. A team of insect experts led by Professor Habte Tekie at the University of Addis Ababa began their investigation after noticing that mosquitoes bite humans and other animals but stay away from chickens. "We went into the chemical basis involved in repelling malaria mosquitoes y odours emanating from the chickens...
The results show that compounds from chicken have very good potential as repellent," Tekie told AFP. One theory for their behaviour is that mosquitoes see chickens as a predator, so seek to avoid them, he said. Tests carried out in three villages in western Ethiopia showed that families that slept beneath a chicken in a cage overnight were mosquito-free in the morning, while homes without indoor poultry were not.
The obvious challenges of sleeping with a bird suspended over the bed were addressed in a follow-up experiment in which villagers were supplied with vials of chicken extract.
The results were similar. The findings, recently published in the medical publication Malaria Journal, will be used in a new collaboration with Swedish scientists to develop n odourless repellent. "This repellent will be safe for human use, (with) no residues contaminating soil or water or poisoning people and it can easily be integrated into malaria control operations," Tekie said. Malaria threatens 60 percent of the population of Ethiopia, a nation of almost 100 million people. The chicken stock with a difference will be "entirely natural," according to the scientist, and the chance of mosquitoes developing resistance is "minimal". There is currently no vaccine against malaria, and the disease killed 438,000 people in 2015, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Sharjah Animation Conference explores cross-cultural collaboration opportunities ..
Sharjah Public Library provides countless opportunities for young imaginations t ..
Sharjah Police launches 'Your belongings, your responsibility' awareness campaig ..
Dubai Police displays Innovative Tourism Security Services at 'ATM 2024'
Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal not part of national squad for Ireland, England: Bab ..
Erdogan opens former church to Muslim worshippers
Cultural events hallmark of a nation, Director RAC
Iraq hangs 11 convicted of 'terrorism': security, health sources
Stocks rise on renewed hopes of rate cuts
PM assures all-out support to Saudi investment
S.Africa building collapse traps 48 workers: city hall
Nilofar lauds efforts for development of national document aimed promoting balan ..
More Stories From World
-
Crystal Palace thrash Man Utd 4-0 to leave Ten Hag's future in doubt
15 minutes ago -
Togo ruling party sweeps regional council elections
25 minutes ago -
Tokyo shares open higher
25 minutes ago -
Australian PM mourns 'tragic' deaths of surfers killed in Mexico
25 minutes ago -
Brazil ex-leader Bolsonaro moved to Sao Paulo hospital for skin infection
25 minutes ago -
Madrid must 'improve' to overcome Bayern in Champions League
25 minutes ago
-
Victor Wembanyama of France named NBA Rookie of the Year
25 minutes ago -
Putin inauguration set to prolong his two decades in power
25 minutes ago -
China says top climate envoy heading to US for talks
25 minutes ago -
Boeing Starliner crewed mission postponed shortly before launch
25 minutes ago -
Victor Wembanyama of France named NBA Rookie of the Year
35 minutes ago -
No letup yet for flood-battered southern Brazil
55 minutes ago