Thursday May 11, 2023 | 1:15 p.m.
Dengue is a global problem that so far has no solution. Although the Anmat (National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology) last month authorized the Japanese Takeda vaccine and it could begin to be applied during the spring, the uncertainties regarding how to stop the virus outweigh the certainties.
During the last report, the Ministry of Health reported that 84,433 thousand people have already been infected and 56 have died, from a viral spread that affects no less than 400 million people a year in the world. Within this framework, a team of scientists from the Instituto del Conurbano of the National University of General Sarmiento does not wait idly by and studies the implementation of an innovative and ecological technique.
What is the method about and how to achieve it
It is about the design of baited traps, provided with floral compounds whose aroma attracts the Aedes aegypti insects that transmit dengue. In this way, the insects would be attracted by substances that would function as attractants. The device is so simple that, if its effectiveness is proven, it could be replicated in every home: they use a 250-gram jar of jam and paint it black on the outside. Inside, they place a tongue depressor (the traditional wooden sticks used by doctors), add a floral compound, water, and place it in strategic places.
The end, from here, is that the mosquito enters and then cannot leave; therefore, the infrastructure is simple but must simulate the logic of the funnel. Currently, the initiative is in experimental phase and it goes through two tracks: laboratory tests are combined with field tests that seek to evaluate the success of the proposal.
To control and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, the prevention measures recommended up to now must be continued, which are: continue with the irreplaceable routine of checking containers with stagnant water, pots, sinks, and even vases.
