Brazil uses radioactive rays to sterilize mosquitoes that block Zika virus

Brazil plans to prevent the spread of Zika virus by using gamma rays to cause infertility of millions of male mosquitoes.

"It is a method of birth control, comparable to the family planning method of people," says Kostas Bourtzis, a molecular biologist at the IAEA's pest control laboratory.

To implement the method, the researchers used an irradiation device, which was used in controlling flies that cause fruit diseases in Madeira Island, Portugal. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it will fund the transport of the device to Juazeiro, northeast of Bahia state, as soon as the Brazilian Government grants import permits.

Brazil is currently racing against time to kill Aedes mosquitoes that cause dengue fever and, more recently, an outbreak of Zika virus, thought to be associated with small head defects, causing brain atrophy in thousands of babies. .

Sterilizing Aedes mosquitoes - the culprit spreading Zika virus by shining gamma rays (γ rays).

According to Bourtzis, the nonprofit organization Moscamed will breed about 12 million male mosquitoes in a week. Mosquitoes cultured in the laboratory will be treated by shining radiation.It is the γ ray from cobalt - 60 irradiator manufactured by Canada's MDS Nordion Company, making them infertile.

After that, male mosquitoes are released into the wild to pair with other female mosquitoes. Mosquito eggs will not be able to hatch into larvae, so the number of mosquito species in the wild will decline.

After piloting in dozens of localities near Juazeiro, the Brazilian government must decide to provide financial aid to increase mosquito production that is sterilized and used for big cities. Here these mosquitoes may be released from the air by unmanned aircraft.

In the context of Zika virus is spreading to more than 30 countries, mainly the Americas and no vaccine can cure the disease caused by this virus, the most feasible measure now is to reduce the number. mosquito live in nature.

The Biomedical Research Institute of Fiocruz in Recife released about 30,000 sterilized mosquitoes on Fernando de Noronha island, about 350km northeast of Barzil. This pilot program hopes to eliminate 70% of the eggs produced by female mosquitoes. Initial results may be announced in May 2016.

Researcher Alice Varjal said the reason the mosquito sterilization method was chosen because using small doses of radiation to fight mosquitoes is the safest way , not to discharge toxins into the environment. This method is more effective than using genetically modified mosquitoes.

Mosquito sterilization method has been tested in many countries. According to the IAEA's harmful insect prevention laboratory, Italy has reduced the number of mosquitoes in the wild by 80% in just a few months. In China, the number of mosquitoes has been destroyed 100%.