
Mosquitoes can be more than just a nuisance, as some can carry parasites and viruses like West Nile and dengue fever. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquito-borne diseases cause around 725,000 deaths every year. Fortunately, there may be a solution to preventing these diseases altogether. Entomologist Naoki Yamanaka suggests chemically halting the maturation of mosquitoes. By preventing them from developing and mating, they won’t be able to spread viruses among humans. It’s an exciting possibility for improving public health.