Video: Breeding Mosquitoes to Fight Zika
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One itchy bite at a time.
As the Zika virus continues to spread into the southern United States, researchers are trying to develop new ways to combat the disease and its carrier, the dreaded mosquito.
Scientists in California are taking a counterintuitive approach to stopping the spread of Zika and other diseases: releasing even more mosquitos. Specifically, 40,000 male mosquitos, injected with a specific form of bacteria.
When these Trojan horse males mate with the infectious disease-carrying females, their resulting eggs won't hatch.
"It's our job to try to do everything we can to minimize the risk of disease transmission and also to minimize the potential for mosquito bites," said Jodi Holeman of the Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District in Fresno County, California
To learn more, check out the video below from Wired: