Image source: (Inquistr)
BY JENNIFER MECKLES
You're watching multisource science video news analysis from Newsy.
Got stinky feet?
Great news! Your pungent piggies could soon help prevent the spread of a dangerous disease.
Scientists found mosquitoes love the smell of dirty socks -- providing an easy way to capture and kill the malaria-spreading insects.
“Researchers in Tanzania are conducting experiments in three different villages. They’re using the sweaty, smelly socks to lure mosquitoes into traps where the insects are poisoned and die. Some of the socks have been worn by an adults for the day, some by kids. In other cases, they’re using pads soaked with human odor bait - chemicals that are exuded by humans from the legs and the feet. (Video: WJBK)
The global infection rate of malaria is decreasing, but Fox reports there are still more than 220 million new cases of malaria each year. Scientists believe this new study is an incredibly easy and low-cost solution, and hope the method will stick. Here’s KNBC:
“They reproduced the stinky sock smell using a careful blend of eight chemicals... The hope is if the stinky traps can be cheaply mass produced, they could provide the first practical way of controlling mosquitoes outside homes.”
Scientists used to believe bugs were attracted to sweet-smelling skin. So, how did researchers learn it’s really funky-smelling feet drawing the masses?
For the sake of science, a Dutch researcher stood naked in a room and simply observed where the bugs bit him most. (Image: Central Florida News 13)
“Daily News to You” says, fifteen years later...
“The team developed the idea... [and] tested their theory by draping socks that had been worn for 12 hours inside boxes that were covered by drapes dowsed in insecticide. As the mosquitoes entered the boxes attracted by the smell, between 74 to 95 per cent of them were killed by the insecticide.”
And KMGH reports, that was enough to convince a few big-name backers to help pay for more research:
“It could be a breakthrough in the fight against malaria. So, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is putting up $775,000 dollars to fund efforts to make a better mosquito trap.”
Want to try your own at-home mosquito remedy? SmartAboutHealth sarcastically warns -- take caution.
“One lesson is already evident from the tests. If you wear smelly socks, you are placing your life at risk. Changing your socks several times daily could be advisable. Taking a frequent shower might also be a good idea.”
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Transcript by Newsy.
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