Mosquito repellent 'losing its effectiveness'

[Still Waters]

People living or travelling in areas plagued by mosquitoes are more at risk of bites after researchers found the insects are first deterred by Deet, but then later ignore it.

Deet, which was developed by the US military following operations in the jungle during World War II, is one of the most widely used ingredients in insect repellents.

http://www.telegraph...ectiveness.html

[freetoroam]

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine took a species of mosquito that spreads dengue and yellow fever and put it in a room with a human arm covered in Deet.

The first time the mosquitoes were tempted with the arm, they were putt off by the smell. However, the second time, researchers found the Deet was less effective.

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Does not surprise me though, we know some insects are changing be it to the climate, so this is another thing the insects will do, they become immune after time. Insects become immune to pesticides, just like humans can do with antibiotics.

Not going off topic, but think this relevant, how will this work with the GM humans they are looking at making in the future? How will the "perfect" human deal with the insects? Will the "perfect" human be made to fight off these insects without repellants?

[freetoroam]

HOLD ON!!

problem solved!!!! There is a thread about this.

A team of Australian scientists in Canberra are celebrating a discovery that could potentially save more than 1 million lives every year.

Dr Natalie Spillman and Professor Kiaran Kirk from the Australian National University had for years been studying how the parasite that causes malaria works.